A sternotomy, most commonly performed as a median sternotomy, is a surgical procedure in which a vertical incision is made along the sternum and the bone itself is divided with a sternal saw, opening the chest to give surgeons access to the heart and lungs. It is the standard approach for operations such as heart transplantation, lung transplantation, corrective surgery for congenital heart defects, and coronary artery bypass surgery.
Facts
FAQs
How long does it take to recover from a sternotomy?
The Cleveland Clinic gives eight weeks for median sternotomy recovery.
The Cleveland Clinic health library states that recovery from a median sternotomy takes eight weeks. That is the time the divided breastbone needs to heal, which is why a sternotomy is counted as major surgery in its own right, apart from whatever operation on the heart or lungs it made possible. This entry records what the source says and is not medical advice; anyone recovering from this surgery follows the instructions of their own surgical team.
Sources
1. Wikipedia
Wikipedia contributors, Wikimedia Foundation
2. Median sternotomy (Wikipedia)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Median_sternotomy, lead section
Median sternotomy is a type of surgical procedure in which a vertical inline incision is made along the sternum, after which the sternum itself is divided using a sternal saw.
History (origin-year)
The median sternotomy was first proposed by Herbert M. N. Milton in 1897.
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