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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1984; 32(4): 260-265
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1023400
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

The Value of Thermography in the Early Diagnosis of Postoperative Sternal Wound Infections

F. Robicsek, T. N. Masters, H. K. Daugherty, J. W. Cook, J. G. Selle, P. J. Hess, P. Vajtai, H. E. Rice, R. Lawhorn
  • Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, and the Heineman Medical and Research Laboratory, Charlotte Memorial Hospital and Medical Center, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
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Publication History

1984

Publication Date:
19 March 2008 (online)

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Summary

Peristernal skin temperatures were recorded postoperatively by infrared thermography in 150 patients. Persistent elevation of peristernal skin temperature during the 3rd and 4th post-operative week was found in 5 patients, all of whom developed sternal wound infection.

A further group of 18 patients, all suspected to have occult wound infection, showed persistent temperature elevation in 7 patients, 6 of these patients were proven later to have manifest infection and needed treatment.

Close thermographic scruting of the incision in patients with suspected but not proven infection appears to be useful in deleting early stages of deep seated infections.

Key words

Sternal wound infection - Thermography