Anaesthetic considerations for noncoronary surgery on a perfused beating heart under cardiopulmonary bypass.

Myocardial revascularisation on a beating heart with or without cardiopulmonary bypass has significantly reduced the incidence of cardioplegic myocardial injury. With this advantage in view, noncoronary open heart surgery was performed on a beating heart under cardiopulmonary bypass. We discuss the anaesthetic management of such cases.

Sternal bands for closure of midline sternotomy leads to better wound healing.

Midline sternotomy is the most common incision for cardiac surgery, but problems of wound healing and sternal instability are still matters of concern. The use of stainless steel wires only was compared with the use of wires plus sternal bands for closure of midline sternotomy wounds in a 2-year period. Of 370 patients in whom only stainless steel wires were used, 14 (3.