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Negative pressure wound therapy in cardiac surgery

Petzina, Rainer LU (2009) In Lund University Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series 2009:22.
Abstract
Negative pressure wound therapy in cardiac surgery



Rainer Petzina, M.D.



Clinical Sciences, Lund, Lund University



Poststernotomy mediastinitis is a devastating complication for patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Conventional treatment includes surgical revision, continuous irrigation with drainage and wound closure with the use of the greater omentum and muscle flaps.

Widespread adoption of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has been driven through favorable clinical experience and excellent healing effects.



The aims of the research in this thesis were:



I. To quantify cardiac output and left ventricular chamber volumes after NPWT,... (More)
Negative pressure wound therapy in cardiac surgery



Rainer Petzina, M.D.



Clinical Sciences, Lund, Lund University



Poststernotomy mediastinitis is a devastating complication for patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Conventional treatment includes surgical revision, continuous irrigation with drainage and wound closure with the use of the greater omentum and muscle flaps.

Widespread adoption of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has been driven through favorable clinical experience and excellent healing effects.



The aims of the research in this thesis were:



I. To quantify cardiac output and left ventricular chamber volumes after NPWT, using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

II. To examine the effects of NPWT on peristernal soft tissue blood flow after internal mammary artery harvesting, using laser Doppler velocimetry.

III. To study the effect of NPWT on blood and fluid content of the sternal wound edge and bone marrow, using MRI (T2-STIR).

IV. To identify the effects of NPWT on the position of the heart in relation to the thoracic wall, using MRI.



An uninfected porcine sternotomy wound model was used for all studies.



The hemodynamic effects of NPWT in cardiac surgery are debated. MRI measurements show that NPWT results in an immediate decrease in cardiac output, although to a lesser extent than shown in previous studies. MRI is known to be the most accurate method for quantifying cardiac output.



Patients with poor blood perfusion of the sternotomy wound edge tissue have a higher risk of developing post-sternotomy mediastinitis. We show that the peristernal wound edge microvascular blood flow is decreased when the left internal mammary artery is harvested. NPWT therapy stimulates blood flow in the in the wound edge both before and after the mammary artery is removed. Stimulating blood flow to the wound edge in patients with impaired microcirculation may be crucial to ensure healing.



MRI measurements show that NPWT increases sternotomy wound edge tissue fluid and/or blood content. Presumably, NPWT creates a pressure gradient that draws fluid from the surrounding tissue into the sternal wound edge and into the vacuum source. This “endogenous drainage” may be one possible mechanism by which osteitis is resolved.



Heart rupture is a devastating complication to NPWT of sternotomy wounds. MR imaging shows that NPWT causes the heart to be sucked up towards the thoracic wall and, in some cases, the right ventricular free wall to bulge into the space between the sternal edges and the sharp edges of the sternum to poke into and deform the anterior surface of the heart. These can be effectively hindered by the placement of a rigid barrier over the anterior portion of the heart.



Taken together, the studies of the present thesis demonstrate the effects of NPWT on the thorax and intrathoracic organs. NPWT alters wound edge microvascular blood flow and fluid content and affects heart pumping and heart position in relation to the thoracic wall.



Rainer Petzina, MD

Lund, January 15, 2009 (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
supervisor
opponent
  • Prof Ahn, Henrik, Depoartment of Thoracic Surgery, Linköping University, Sweden
organization
publishing date
type
Thesis
publication status
published
subject
in
Lund University Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series
volume
2009:22
pages
67 pages
publisher
Clinical Sciences, Lund University
defense location
Segerfalksalen, Lund
defense date
2009-02-27 09:00:00
ISSN
1652-8220
ISBN
978-91-86253-09-7
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
3e8dc35b-5de8-4f21-862f-fe8089b956ae (old id 1292157)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:52:41
date last changed
2022-01-27 08:07:01
@phdthesis{3e8dc35b-5de8-4f21-862f-fe8089b956ae,
  abstract     = {{Negative pressure wound therapy in cardiac surgery<br/><br>
<br/><br>
Rainer Petzina, M.D.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
Clinical Sciences, Lund, Lund University<br/><br>
<br/><br>
Poststernotomy mediastinitis is a devastating complication for patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Conventional treatment includes surgical revision, continuous irrigation with drainage and wound closure with the use of the greater omentum and muscle flaps.<br/><br>
Widespread adoption of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has been driven through favorable clinical experience and excellent healing effects. <br/><br>
<br/><br>
The aims of the research in this thesis were:<br/><br>
<br/><br>
I.	To quantify cardiac output and left ventricular chamber volumes after NPWT, using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).<br/><br>
II.	To examine the effects of NPWT on peristernal soft tissue blood flow after internal mammary artery harvesting, using laser Doppler velocimetry.<br/><br>
III.	To study the effect of NPWT on blood and fluid content of the sternal wound edge and bone marrow, using MRI (T2-STIR).<br/><br>
IV.	To identify the effects of NPWT on the position of the heart in relation to the thoracic wall, using MRI.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
An uninfected porcine sternotomy wound model was used for all studies.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
The hemodynamic effects of NPWT in cardiac surgery are debated. MRI measurements show that NPWT results in an immediate decrease in cardiac output, although to a lesser extent than shown in previous studies. MRI is known to be the most accurate method for quantifying cardiac output. <br/><br>
<br/><br>
Patients with poor blood perfusion of the sternotomy wound edge tissue have a higher risk of developing post-sternotomy mediastinitis. We show that the peristernal wound edge microvascular blood flow is decreased when the left internal mammary artery is harvested. NPWT therapy stimulates blood flow in the in the wound edge both before and after the mammary artery is removed. Stimulating blood flow to the wound edge in patients with impaired microcirculation may be crucial to ensure healing.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
MRI measurements show that NPWT increases sternotomy wound edge tissue fluid and/or blood content. Presumably, NPWT creates a pressure gradient that draws fluid from the surrounding tissue into the sternal wound edge and into the vacuum source. This “endogenous drainage” may be one possible mechanism by which osteitis is resolved. <br/><br>
<br/><br>
Heart rupture is a devastating complication to NPWT of sternotomy wounds. MR imaging shows that NPWT causes the heart to be sucked up towards the thoracic wall and, in some cases, the right ventricular free wall to bulge into the space between the sternal edges and the sharp edges of the sternum to poke into and deform the anterior surface of the heart. These can be effectively hindered by the placement of a rigid barrier over the anterior portion of the heart. <br/><br>
<br/><br>
Taken together, the studies of the present thesis demonstrate the effects of NPWT on the thorax and intrathoracic organs. NPWT alters wound edge microvascular blood flow and fluid content and affects heart pumping and heart position in relation to the thoracic wall.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
Rainer Petzina, MD<br/><br>
Lund, January 15, 2009}},
  author       = {{Petzina, Rainer}},
  isbn         = {{978-91-86253-09-7}},
  issn         = {{1652-8220}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Clinical Sciences, Lund University}},
  school       = {{Lund University}},
  series       = {{Lund University Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series}},
  title        = {{Negative pressure wound therapy in cardiac surgery}},
  volume       = {{2009:22}},
  year         = {{2009}},
}