Sternal Wires-Induced Severe Systemic Inflammatory Response and Cardiac Tamponade.

Nickel hypersensitivity has been reported in up to 15% of the general population, and cases of nickel allergy have been correlated with use of stainless steel wires. This is a case report of a 48-year-old woman with history of contact allergy to metal who underwent elective coronary artery bypass grafting. Severe systemic inflammatory response and cardiac tamponade due to edema of mediastinal tissues developed postoperatively. The patient required removal of stainless steel wires and delayed sternal closure with Ethibond (Ethicon, Somerville, NJ) sutures in addition to intravenous steroids. In patients with hypersensitivity to nickel, other alternatives closure methods should be considered.