Sternal Wound Infections in Patients After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Using Bilateral Skeletonized Internal Mammary Arteries

Abstract

Routine arterial myocardial revascularization using bilateral skeletonized IMAs is safe, and postoperative morbidity and mortality rates are low, even in elderly patients and those with diabetes. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emergency operations were found to be associated with an increased risk of sternal infections, and the authors recommend avoiding the use of bilateral skeletonized IMAs in patients with these preoperative risk factors.