Bone wax versus oxidized regenerated cellulose in preventing sternal intramedullary bleeding in cardiac surgery

Abstract

BackgroundBone wax (BW) or oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC) concomitant with electrocoagulation is one of the preventive strategies in controlling sternal intramedullary bleeding post cardiac surgery. The aim of this study is to compare the difference between these two strategies in our patients. Methods50 of our patients who underwent conventional open heart surgery in our department were recruited in this study and were randomized into 2 groups; group I (25 patients) bone wax and concomitant electrocauterization were used, and group II (25 patients) oxidized regenerated cellulose and concomitant electrocauterization were used. The following parameters were compared: the amount of postoperative hemorrhage in the first 24 h, numbers of units of blood and its products used, rates of re-exploration for hemorrhage, wound complications in first 3 months follow-up and the difference in cost-effective ratio. ResultsPatient's Demographics and intraoperative variables were comparable in both groups. There was no statistically significant difference between the amounts of postoperative hemorrhage in both groups; however, there was only one case of superficial wound infection and one case with sternal dehiscence in the short term follow-up in group I. Bone wax is significantly cheaper than ORC. ConclusionBW concomitant with electrocauterization is effective as ORC concomitant with electrocauterization in preventing sternal intramedullary bleeding in cardiac surgery and is much cheaper.