sternal wires

[Birky]

I had asked before if anyone had their wires taken out and I did get some replies. Could you please tell me if they cut you up and down or across where each wire is? Were you pretty sore and for how long? They are doing mine on an outpatient basis but this worries me. Please let me know. Thanks, Marcia

 

[RCB]

My experience

My experience

The dr. who did mine was a thorasic generalist, but did a
a rotatation in heart surgery. I went in to his office(no holding
coumandin), numbed the area of each wire with a local, made a very small hole, clipped the wire on one side of the twist, then yank like hell on the twisted side and out it came. Had trouble with one wire, he nearly me pulled off the table. Applied a butterfly to each incision and
I went from his office to the airport for a Spring vacation in Fla.
The whole thing only took ten minutes.
I was sunbathing a few days later and in a week you couldn't
hardly tell anything was done. My problem was I couldn't sleep on my chest very well. Two days after removal, I sleeping like a baby on my chest.
That was my last AVR. On my first two, they used a type
that kind of dissovled away. That was very nice as were alot of things in those days.
This post means I'm no longer a rookie here. WAA HOO!

 

[RWS]

sternal wires

Why would one have the sternal wires removed ? Just wondering...

 

[hensylee]

various reasons, Randy. they can stick out and be unsightly or uncomfortable, they can break, - and when somebody wants or needs them out, they can be removed. I can feel mine and if the cat steps on my chest, (which she does really often) the area is tender. Some folks need them out and some just want them out.

 

[Marcia]

sternal wires

The reason they are taking out the wires, is that I have a fracture in that area and it is causing a lot of discomfort. He is going to take out 3. Going to do it in the hospital on an outpatient basis. I don't know if I am going to be awake or asleep. Can hardly wear a bra with the soreness. I guess I have 8. Thanks,

 

[Gail in Ca]

I had mine all removed8 mos after surgery on an outpatient basis.
First an xray is taken to determine where and how many.
Then they knock you out and when you wake up there is a large bandage. I found that each wire location had a very small incision, about 1/4 inch where it was removed. This healed nicely and I cannot see where each little cut was. My sternum was quite stiff for a few days, not really painful, though.
I was glad I did it. My surgeon did it, which surprised me , since he is really in demand for all the valve procedures.
Gail