Removing sternum wires?

[ILoVeNY25]

Hi Everyone,

I wanted to ask for your expertise...Tomorrow I will be 10 weeks post-op. I went for an echo today to check the progress of my pericarditis. Successfully I was on Celebrex that cleared it all up. Though what a relief, I'm now faced with another pothole in my road to recovery. Last week I noticed a bump along my incision site which felt very hard and I had not noticed it before, I went straight to my pcp and he did a chest x-ray and said it was the clips/wires that were put in place to hold the sternum together. It is very discomforting to me and very irritating. I went to my cardio today for the echo and I mentioned it to her and she agreed it was the wire that's bothering me, she said it doesn't help that I'm so thin, but suggested I go down to my surgeons office (in same building). I really never planned to see this man again He examined me and said he doesn't usually encounter this since most of his patients have some meat on their bones. I explained how much it was bothering me and he suggested making a small incision and removing the wires, since they're not needed anymore. Though he assured me this procedure takes about 15-20 mins, I would need to spend 4 days in the hospital for control and management of Coumadin/Heparin. Ultimately, The decision is mine, I live with it or have it taken care of. Any thoughts on this? Has anyone had they're wires removed? Thanks!

 

[Ross]

I would think if it's bothering you that much, yes, get it or them removed. I have all of mine in place (For now anyhow) and I also have some meat on the bones, but I have 2 of them that bother me. I don't know Nicole. I guess ultimately, your decision is the one that's going to count here.

 

[hensylee]

Believe Ben Smith had wire(s) removed. Several have mentioned having removal because they stuck out, or broke. It didn't seem to be a big deal for them, but in your case, being in the hospital for 4 days IS a big deal. And you are such a little one to have to go through all this. Guess the choice is up to you. If it is painful for you, you will probably opt for getting them out eventually, if not now. Best wishes on whatever you decide. God bless

 

[Marty]

WIRES OUT?

WIRES OUT?

Nicole,At my hospital the ten heart surgeons refer patients like you to a plastic surgeon who takes care of all the "wound" problems like wires, infection, opening up, etc. I think they keep him pretty busy. I have a friend who had a mitral repair with a problem worse than yours.He was on Coumadin and still is because of chronic a-fib. The plastic surgeon took wires out and also had to do some plastic work and as I remember did it all as an out patient. Maybe you should get another opinion?

 

[Christina]

Nicole..

Nicole..

Hi Nicole,

I also thought between surgery and 6 months post-op that a wire or wires were poking me and giving me the discomfort; I even went to see my surgeon again buthHe told me it were not the wires but keloids and scar tissue, and that it would get better over time. It did for the most part. It still hurts at times but far not as bad as then.
I also feel little pokes and soreness in the heart region now and then but it must be the keloids and scar tissue there as well. I always feel the discomfort on the left side or in the middle where the scar is.

Christina
Congenital Aortic Stenosis
AVR's 8/7/00 & 8/18/00
St.Jude's Mechanical

 

[Gail in Ca]

4 days???

4 days???

Nicole,
I had my sternal wires all removed on an out patient basis 7 mos after surgery.
I went off coumadin 4 days before surgery as I recall. I checked in and was looked at by my surgeons assistant. They took Xrays to make sure where the wires were and the whole procedure took about 20 minutes. ( I was out).
I went home that afternoon. This was at Stanford Hospital.
I was only in the hospital 5 days for my surgery, and so 4 days for wires seems excessive.
I was stiff for a few days after the removal, and then felt so much better without those bumps, as I am thin also.
Hope this helps.
Gail

 

[Hank]

Sternal Wiring

Sternal Wiring

I think it was around 6 months post op for me that my top wire started bothering me. I went to my surgeon and he scheuled me for an outpatient procedure at the same hospital I had my surgery at.

I think from the time I got to the hospital to the time I was back in the car with my wife driving me home was a grand total of about 4 hours.

I think if it's bothering you - yank that puppy!!

It's not a big deal really - those wires are just extra baggage after 6 months or so.

Can't see why they want to keep you for 2-4 days though - that doesn't sound right to me.

 

[mimmidoe]

I had wires removed after they bugged me tooooo long. They got worse and worse, until the Doc was afraid they might damage my skin. (ie; come through?) Anyway, it was a 3 day stay, but that was about 10 years ago. They are very cautious with me. If they are painful I'd get them out. Up to you, darlin.