Efficacy of Sternum Guard in Post Cardiac Surgery Patient

"The intervention being assessed is a surgical drape used as a cover of sternal bones and the neighboring structures exposed during median sternotomy named Sternum Guard.~Sternum guard® is a single use, sterile surgical drape with modified cellulose designed specifically to reduce the risk of surgical site infection (SSI).~It is made of 4 parts, the main part is in contact with the retractors and the sternum edge. It is made of carboxymethylated cellulose (CMC) spunlace which makes direct contact with the sternum edges. It contributes to blood absorption, to decreasing of pH environment, and to haemostatic action through a physical effect (compression); another part was made from hydrophilic spunbond (swabs) allowing blood absorption, comfort and protection"

patients in this group were given Bone Wax as the hemostatic material during sternotomy. Midline sternotomy with an oscillating saw was conducted after standard aseptic surgical techniques. Bone wax was applied to both spongiosa surfaces of resected sternal bones until bleeding had ceased.