Air-plasma Flow for Post-sternotomy Wound Complications Management

Pavel Lednev ¹, Yury Belov ¹, Andrey Lysenko ¹, Marakhonich Leonid ², Gennady Salagaev ¹

¹ Petrovsky Russian Research Center for Surgery, Moscow, Russia; ² Dedovsk Municipal Hospital, Moscow, Russia;

Date, time and location: 2018.05.25 15:30, Exhibition area, 1st Floor. Zone – B

Abstract

Objective. To analyze early outcomes of air-plasma flow in superficial sternal infection management in cardiac patients.

Methods. Seven patients who underwent elective cardiac procedures were enrolled. Superficial sternal infection occurred in 8.3 ± 5.3 days after surgery. Air-plasma flow (Plazon device) in sparing sterilization mode was used for local treatment of wound infection. Mean number of procedures was 5.9 ± 0.7 up to delayed sutures deployment. The last were placed as soon as granulation tissue was observed. Herewith there was intraoperative wound management with air-plasma flow in advanced sterilization mode before sutures placement and in delicate sterilization after that. Postoperative management of the wound was continued in biological stimulation mode (NO-therapy). Mean number of procedures was 5.9 ± 1.1.

Results. "Plazon" device’s effectiveness was evaluated by conversion of exudation to regeneration phase followed by granulations. Focal granulations were observed after 3.0 ± 0.6 days after treatment onset. Active granulation tissue occurred after 5.9 ± 0.7 days. Microbial contamination of the wound was absent in all cases in 5 days of treatment. Time of management with air-plasma flow up to delayed sutures deployment was 6.9 ± 0.7 days. Mean length of hospital-stay after redo surgery was 6.9 ± 1.1 days.

Conclusion. Air-plasma flow in superficial sternal infection management reduces time of exudation, accelerates proliferation phase, decreases time of treatment before and after delayed sutures deployment.