wires

[AH31]

I am just enquiring if anyone else who has recently had open heart surgery, has a hole at the top of their scar.

It appears like a hole but I have noticed wire sticking out (appears white)

Just wondered if anyone has noticed this and what it could indicate.

[DodgyTickerMum]

Hiya,

Sorry to hear you’re still experiencing issues with your scar. The top and bottom of my scar certainly took the longest time to heal and felt very painful on occasion, which my Cardiac Nurse explained was all the nerve endings re-attaching. I could also feel large lumps under the skin, which I was informed were suture knots. These did eventually disappear. My scar is now quite lumpy up and down my sternum, but I can’t decide if these are bone or metal work? I’m 9 months post op.

Could it be an internal suture that you can see? I wld def get it checked out - to hopefully put your mind at ease. I hope the infection has now cleared and you’re feeling a bit better. 🤞🏻❤️‍🩹

[AH31 in reply to DodgyTickerMum]

Thankyou

The infection has cleared up and the scab is all off. I am happy to let it fix itself but the fact you can see some kind of wire poking out of the skin looks a little different lol

[fishonabike in reply to AH31]

the "wire" is probably a suture (stitch), these can be quite stiff and wire-like

it sounds like you need a wound check to reassure you, could you contact the hospital where the op was done and ask about that - see your discharge letter or look up the cardiology dept on the hosp website for a phone number

[Sljp0000]

HiIm 18 months on from open heart surgery. I have little white and black spots down my bumpy scar where they're coming to the skin. I was told they are the wires around my sternum. I've been told I can have them removed as they are sometimes uncomfortable. However, my sternum hasnt healed properly so it would risk making the sternum more unstable and it could mean having to have it plated together. I will see how I go but for now I'm leaving well alone! Maybe ask your GP to check yours but unless it looks infected I'm sure it will be fine xx

[AH31 in reply to Sljp0000]

That makes sense I did wonder if these wires something to do with the sternum.

Mine is still sore at time especially in the evening but it’s only been five weeks so I can’t expect too much. I will contact my GP and double confirm everything as there is yellow coming from the hole at the top of my scar.

[fishonabike in reply to AH31]

as an ex-nurse i feel you should definitely see your GP or the hospital cardiology dept, the yellow stuff should be checked

[AH31 in reply to Sljp0000]

I have been to the GP and it’s part of the stitches I’m to leave it and hopefully they will come out on their own.

[Sljp0000 in reply to AH31]

That's good. As long as its not infected, that's the main thing x

[APC65]

Hi, I'm 14 months post surgery now. I definitely have what feels like a deep dip at the top of the scar - but it's not really visible. During earlier healing stages I could feel the wires under my skin, I could even press them and they would ' bounce', they were also white, whereas rest of scar was red, so it was possible to see the shape of the wire too..... Weird! They have now disappeared and I can't feel them any more. Scar is still quite red though.

[BigMel]

Hi,

Sometime after my second AVR I had a noticeable white bump which clearly was a wire. It wasn't there straight after the operation but it must have moved as things settled down.

Unfortunately it stayed in that position for several months with the skin gradually becoming more red and angry looking and quite sore. I had informed the Cardiac Outpatients Department about it on my follow up appointments but apart from being told to keep an eye on it nothing was needed to be done.

Eventually it broke through the skin and stuck out by about 3mm. This was at the beginning of the pandemic and the NHS was being overrun by events. A dressing was put on it and I was waiting in the corridor for antibiotics to be given to me when my Cardiologist walked passed.

After a brief conversation she took me into a side room, had a look at the offending wire and said "that's coming out". 4 days later I was in hospital having it removed and sent home after a 2 night stay.

No problems since then although as you would expect, there are still a few humps and bumps from the remaining wires.

Just keep mentioning it to your Cardiac team and if it becomes sore ask them when can it be removed before it breaks the skin.

Good luck.

[AH31 in reply to BigMel]

Thankyou

How did they remove the wires without that question sounding silly.

They are uncomfortable and the fact you can see them because they have pierced through the skin. The scar is red around it too.

[BigMel]

If one has pierced the skin you would feel it catching on your clothes or in bed. It would feel like barbed wire should you run your finger over it.

Removing it involved a small surgical procedure under sedation that took no time at all and no after effects of pain.