Pitfalls of Robicsek 's Procedure: Safest Avant -Garde Alternatives to Reduce Sternum Surgical Complications

Abstract

Robicsek's technique is a surgical methodology mainly used for sternal dehiscence, stabilization of the chest wall, and maintaining respiratory dynamics. Returning to an infected and anatomically altered scenario after cardiac surgery fosters a high risk of rupture, tears of previous repairs, and vascular bypasses. Classically, the dense adhesion of the left internal mammary artery to the posterior plate of the sternum makes the dissection of half of the fractured and dehisced sternum a prone situation for transection avulsion of the artery conduit, requiring ligating the most critical bypass to the heart. Our proposal brings a solid and safe surgical alternative to avoid dealing with the dangerous situation of dissecting the posterior sternum to perform Robicsek's procedure.