Complications of median sternotomy: computed tomographic evaluation.

Complications of median sternotomy are infrequent (0.5%-5%) but have a very high mortality and morbidity. Conventional radiographic techniques are of limited value in assessing these complications. Twenty sternotomy patients without problems and 12 with clinical problems were studied with CT. In the control group, focal edema, focal hematomas, and minor sternal irregularities were universal. In the problem group, CT was able to distinguish the six patients without significant infection from the six with major infections. In the latter group, CT was of great value in determining whether the infection was limited to the presternal tissues, the anterior mediastinum, or both.