Post-Surgical

Sternal Wound Complications.

Expert second opinions for sternal wound complications. Dual-physician Heart Team review with triple risk scoring. Results in 24 hours.

1-3% of cardiac surgery cases
Prevalence
DSWI mortality 10-25%
Key Outcome
Specialized wound centers have best outcomes
Procedures
Quick Answer

Sternal Wound Complications (DSWI) and sternal dehiscence are serious complications following cardiac surgery, occurring in 1-3% of cases. If you are facing a decision about sternal wound complications, an independent Heart Team second opinion can confirm whether surgery is the right choice and identify alternatives. WhiteGloveMD delivers dual-physician review with STS, EuroSCORE II, and AATS risk scoring in 24 hours. Get an independent second opinion →

Overview

Understanding sternal wound complications.

Deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) and sternal dehiscence are serious complications following cardiac surgery, occurring in 1-3% of cases. Despite improvements in prevention, these complications carry significant morbidity and mortality.

Why It Matters

Why you need a second opinion.

Management of deep sternal wound infection has evolved significantly. Negative pressure wound therapy, muscle flap reconstruction, and innovative closure techniques have improved outcomes. Patients managed at centers with dedicated sternal wound programs have better outcomes than those treated with standard approaches.

Critical Decisions

Key decisions for sternal wound complications.

Wound management strategy (debridement, VAC, flap closure)
Antibiotic selection and duration
Timing of definitive closure
Muscle flap vs omental flap reconstruction
Hardware removal decisions
Risk Factors

What affects your risk.

Diabetes and glucose control
Bilateral internal mammary artery use
Obesity
Immunosuppression
Chronic steroid use
Our Review

What our Heart Team provides.

Dual-physician review (cardiac surgeon + cardiologist)
Triple risk scoring (STS PROM, EuroSCORE II, AATS)
ACC/AHA guideline mapping with evidence grades
Treatment alternatives with risk-benefit comparison
Surgeon and institution matching via Sentinel
Personalized question guide for your next appointment
Complete provenance trail for every conclusion
Results delivered within 24 hours
Common Questions

Frequently asked questions.

Do I need surgery for sternal wound complications?

Surgery for sternal wound complications depends on symptom severity, imaging findings, and risk profile. Guidelines from the AHA/ACC define specific thresholds, but many patients fall into gray zones where a second opinion meaningfully changes the recommendation. Management of deep sternal wound infection has evolved significantly. Negative pressure wound therapy, muscle flap reconstruction, and innovative closure techniques have improved outcomes. Patients managed at centers with dedicated sternal wound programs have better outcomes than those treated with standard approaches.

What are the risks of sternal wound complications surgery?

Operative mortality for sternal wound complications-related cardiac surgery is calculated using validated models including STS PROM, EuroSCORE II, and AATS. Individual risk depends on age, comorbidities, frailty, ejection fraction, and surgeon/center volume. Our free calculator at whiteglovemd.com/tools/risk-calculator estimates your specific risk across all three models in real time.

Should I get a second opinion before sternal wound complications surgery?

Yes. Studies show that 30-40% of expert cardiac surgery second opinions change the original treatment plan — sometimes by recommending less-invasive alternatives, sometimes by clarifying that watchful waiting is safer. WhiteGloveMD pairs a cardiac surgeon and cardiologist with our Clintelligence multi-agent AI pipeline to deliver an independent review in 24 hours, starting at $500.

What is the best treatment for sternal wound complications?

The optimal treatment for sternal wound complications depends on anatomy, comorbidities, age, and personal goals. Wound management strategy (debridement, VAC, flap closure). A Heart Team review evaluates every viable option — including transcatheter approaches, repair vs replacement, and surgeon/center matching — rather than defaulting to a single recommendation.

Clinical References
  1. Phoon PHY, Hwang NC. Deep Sternal Wound Infection: Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2020;34(6):1602-1613.
  2. O'Brien SM, Feng L, He X, et al. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons 2018 Adult Cardiac Surgery Risk Models. Ann Thorac Surg. 2018;105(5):1411-1418.
  3. Nashef SAM, Roques F, Sharples LD, et al. EuroSCORE II. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2012;41(4):734-745.

Reading on sternal wound complications

See all articles →
Risk Assessment
EuroSCORE II Explained: What This European Cardiac Surgery Risk Score Means for Your Heart Surgery Decision

EuroSCORE II is one of the most widely used risk calculators in cardiac surgery worldwide. Learn what the European cardiac surgery risk score actually measures, how it compares to the STS risk model, and why understanding your score matters before you consent to an operation.

Serrie Lico, MD · May 24, 2026
Diagnostics
Cardiac Stress Test Results: What Your Exercise Echo or Nuclear Stress Test Actually Means

A world-class imaging cardiologist explains how to read and understand your cardiac stress test results — whether you had an exercise stress echo, nuclear stress test, or pharmacologic study. Learn what abnormal findings really mean for your heart and what comes next.

Kunal U. Gurav, MD · May 23, 2026
Risk Assessment
EuroSCORE II Explained: What This European Cardiac Surgery Risk Score Means for Your Heart Surgery Decision

EuroSCORE II is one of the most widely used cardiac surgery risk calculators in the world. As a cardiovascular surgeon, I explain what this European risk score measures, how it compares to the STS risk model, and what patients need to understand before surgery.

Rahul R. Handa, MD · May 22, 2026
Diagnostics
Understanding Your Echocardiogram: A Cardiologist's Guide to TTE vs TEE and What Your Results Actually Mean

A fellowship-trained cardiac imaging specialist explains the key differences between TTE and TEE echocardiograms, what your results mean, and how accurate echocardiogram interpretation can change your surgical plan. Practical guidance for patients and families navigating cardiac imaging decisions.

Kunal U. Gurav, MD · May 18, 2026

Related conditions.

Prosthetic Valve Dysfunction
Paravalvular Leak
Coronary Graft Failure
TAVR Complications

Get an expert opinion on your sternal wound complications.

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