Abstract
The study was designed to assess the early changes in sternal perfusion after midline sternotomy and different (skeletonized versus semiskeletonized) techniques of internal thoracic artery (ITA) harvesting. The experiments were performed in the swine model. After midline sternotomy, ITA harvesting (skeletonized technique) was performed unilaterally in Group I (6 animals). The ITA and the internal thoracic vein (ITV) were harvested (semiskeletonized technique) in Group II (5 animals). The contralateral sternal half served as a control. Using a thermographic camera with a 0.06 degrees C sensitivity, sternal perfusion was assessed 2 and 5 hours after surgery. Midline sternotomy alone did not affect sternal blood flow. A statistically significant ( p < 0.05) reduction in perfusion of the involved sternal half in comparison to the control side was detected at 2 and 5 hours after surgery. The degree of perfusion deficit was not related to the harvesting technique. Skeletonized and semiskeletonized ITA harvesting techniques caused a similar acute reduction in sternal perfusion during the early postoperative period and this effect lasted for at least 5 hours.
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