OBJECTIVE: Using the Ley prosthesis, a 0.5mm thick @entity702 alloy plate for stabilising the sternum, is a new method in the treatment of @entity1764 after open-heart surgery. We report a retrospective analysis of our experience with this device. METHODS: One hundred consecutive cases of post-operative @entity1764 in the period 1992-1997 were reviewed. The primary procedure at reoperation for infection was as follows: 52 @entity1 were treated with the Ley prosthesis and 48 @entity1 underwent other conventional procedures. The choice of the surgical technique depended on the attending surgeon. The prosthesis was used more frequently in @entity1 with sternal dehiscence (P<0.001) but otherwise @entity1 ' characteristics were similar in the two groups. As a control population for outcome data, 100 uninfected @entity1 were matched with regard to operative procedure, age, sex and date of surgery. RESULTS: The median hospital stay was 48.5 days in the @entity1764 group vs. 14 days in the control group. The all-cause 90-day mortality in the @entity1764 group was 18% vs. 5% in the control group. The 52 @entity1 treated with the Ley prosthesis had a median length of stay in the cardiac surgery ward for 29 days vs. 41.5 days in the @entity1764 group not treated with the prosthesis (P=0.013). However, when the total length of stay including hospitals outside the cardiac surgery ward was taken into account, the prosthesis did not reduce the length of stay. Only 8/52 @entity1 treated with the prosthesis required further surgery vs. 23/48 @entity1 who were not primarily treated with the prosthesis (P<0.001). The Ley prosthesis had no impact on mortality. CONCLUSION: The Ley prosthesis is a valuable adjunct to the treatment of @entity1764 after open-heart surgery. A shorter stay at the cardiac surgery ward and a reduced need for further surgical procedures were observed when using this prosthesis.

Fewer reoperations and shorter stay in the cardiac surgical ward when stabilising the sternum with the Ley prosthesis in post-operative XXXX .

@entity702 :: ('MESH:D014025', 'Chemical') :: ['titanium'] @entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity1764 :: ('MESH:D008480', 'Disease') :: ['mediastinitis']
@entity1764 :: (MESH:D008480,Disease) :: ['mediastinitis']
