Re: Sternum

Posted By CCF CARDIO MD - DLB on March 23, 1999 at 11:10:57:

In Reply to: Sternum posted by Kim Wrightson on March 22, 1999 at 16:27:29:






Hello, we work for an organization called LIFE Centers for Independent Living and we have a client who is contemplating suicide.  His wife and children have left him, he's lost his health after a triple bypass in 1994.  He also has angina of the heart.  he lifted something too heavy and is not able to sit up or walk for any length of time.  His sternum was separated and he has had it rewired three times and the doctors say it can nt be rewired.  He is taking Trandate (200 mg 3 times daily), Morphine (15 mg 1 or 2 every 6 hours), Cleberx (200 mg 2 times daily), Dipyridamole (75 mg-3 times daily), Sular (20 mg, 1 per day), Ambien (10 mg, 1-2 at night), Valium (10 mg - 2 per day), Cerzone (150 mg 4 times daily), and Pepcid (20 mg per day).  Does anyone have any suggestions for helping this man?  Is there any new way to reattach his sternum?
Kim Wrightson and Sammie Mitchell
LIFE Indpendent Living Center
1-800-429-4371
3212 34th Street, Lubbock, TX  79410




Dear Kim
This is a tough situation. I am assuming a psychiatrist is involved directly in his care. If not, one should be consulted emergently, as he is suicidal.
If he has sternal separation, debridement of dead tissue and rewiring of healthy tissue should be sufficient. I do not understand why his sternum keeps getting separated, unless he does not avoid excessive activity after each surgical revision. A less likely reason for non-healing of the sternum is if there is an infection in the sternum, which will prevent it from healing. In this situation, he would need intravenous antibiotics in addition to rewiring.
I hope this has been useful. I wish you the best of luck. Feel free to write back.
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter.   The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.