[Delayed sternal closure for life-threatening massive bleeding during re-open heart surgery].

Delayed sternal closure (DSC) was used for 4 patients undergoing various cardiac reoperations to control perioperative hemorrhage. DSC was performed 48-72 hours later. All patients left the hospital alive and in good condition. The only recognized complication was an abscess formation around the bleeding area, which was successfully treated with systemic antibiotics. The remaining 3 patients manifested no infections. In two of these patients, hemodynamic instability was continued because of right ventricular outflow tract obstruction by compression of the packs which were left over the bleeding area. The function of coagulation of the blood was recovered except prothrombin time (PT) at the time of definitive closure of the chest. Recovery of the function of coagulation was useful in deciding the timing of DSC than hemodynamic state.