Anyone had experience with a chest wound that won’t heal or removal of sternal wires?

[worriedinalabama]

My husband had a triple bypass in May and a week later had a pulmonary embolectomy. He ended up on a ventilator for about six weeks and finally was released from the hospital on July 17. Since then, he has been treated for a chest wound that will not heal. He had a wound vac for a short time that did a great job but I think the doctor removed it prematurely. He has been on IV antibiotics for about four weeks but the wound is still there. There’s a small part that goes to the sternum. The wound doctor told me today that he thinks the sternal wires are causing the wound not to heal and he thinks he will need surgery. I am scared to death of him having more surgery and/or being under general anesthesia. Has anyone else experienced this? Could it be done under local anesthesia?

[Rhyl1 Partner Moderator ICUsteps]

Has he had a CT scan to check his sternum? This would be standard practice before surgery is decided upon to check the sternum. Any surgery would not be done under a local anaesthetic as it is major surgery and made need plastic surgery as well. Can you get a second opinion?

[FamilyHistorian]

Hi there

Is your husband on any other drugs eg for arthritis?

The reason I ask is that when I had my valve replaced at the end of 2019 and previously 8 years before my wound healed without any problem despite being in icu for some time. They stopped my drugs

However 2 years previously I had an op on my spine and they didn’t stop my drugs and the wound wouldn’t heal They were operating 3 times a week on general anaesthetic cutting the wound open and cleaning it out. They used drains and vacuums to no avail and it was only when they stopped the drugs that it started to heal. Even the antibiotics didn’t help.

Regards