Citation

Ohkawa M, Tsuchiya A, Morita S, Nakagawa Y. Acute Med. Surg. 2024; 11(1): e969.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2024, Japanese Association for Acute Medicine, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/ams2.969

PMID

38774150

PMCID

PMC11106553

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Median sternotomy is a common surgical procedure during cardiac and pulmonary surgeries. There are many reports of patient injury associated with wire breakage. However, there are only a few reports of healthcare worker injuries by sternal wire.

CASE PRESENTATION: A patient in his 70s, having a history of thoracic aorta replacement, collapsed suddenly and paramedics started mechanical chest compression. On hospital arrival, the emergency department nurse attempted to initiate manual chest compression but was injured by a sternal wire protrusion on the patient's chest. The emergency physician placed gauze on the sternal wire and continued manual chest compression, but the patient died.

CONCLUSION: To prevent this injury, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) providers should consciously check the patient's chest. If they observe wire exposure, they should immediately place a gauze, pad or consider performing mechanical chest compression. Safety measures such as the installing rubber pads in the AED should be considered.

Language: en

Keywords

cardiopulmonary resuscitation; heart massage; sternotomy; bone wire; wound stab