# Novel Use of an Electroceutical Wound Dressing to Complement Wound Closure in High-Risk Sternotomy Patients: Clinical Safety and Outcomes

## TL;DR

A new wound dressing using electrical signals helps prevent complications in high-risk heart surgery patients.

## Contribution

Electroceutical wound dressings (EWDs) are introduced as a novel solution for post-sternotomy wound management in high-risk cardiac surgery patients.

## Key findings

- None of the 100 patients experienced wound dehiscence or infection at 14- and 30-day follow-ups.
- EWDs eliminated the need for postoperative chest stabilization, saving costs and resources.
- Patients showed successful and stable sternal closure with no significant pain reported.

## Abstract

Objectives

Surgical wound separation, known as wound dehiscence, occurs when the layers of a surgical incision pull apart either partially or completely. This condition, alongside wound infections, presents a major challenge in surgical practice. The consequences can be severe, ranging from compromised healing and increased susceptibility to infection to higher medical expenses and significant patient distress. Particularly in cardiac surgery involving median sternotomy, patients with elevated risk factors require careful attention to wound closure methods. Recent advances in medical technology have introduced innovative solutions for post-sternotomy wound management. A promising development in this field is the emergence of electroceutical wound dressings (EWDs). EWDs are one such example. EWDs replicate the physiological electrical signal generated during the time of injury, thus serving a dual purpose: enhancing the healing process by enabling cell proliferation toward the site of injury while also serving as a robust antimicrobial device to prevent wound infections.

Methods

This study examined a cohort of 100 patients undergoing cardiac surgery via median sternotomy at a single institution by a single surgeon. The sternotomy wound was closed in the usual fashion and covered with an EWD. Demographics, medical histories, and the occurrence of sternal complications were collected for each patient, followed by the statistical evaluation of collected data.

Results

At their 14- and 30-day follow-up visits, none of the patients had experienced sternal wound dehiscence or infection, and their sternotomy wounds showed excellent signs of normal wound closure. A comprehensive sternal pain evaluation was carried out, and no significant pain was elicited in any patients, a sign that sternal closure was successful and stable. The addition of the EWD to our clinical practice has also contributed to no longer requiring postoperative chest stabilization adjuncts, resulting in significant financial and resource savings for our group.

Conclusions

This study showed the promise of the EWD as an effective solution to stabilize sternal wound closure in high-risk patients. Its biomimetic and robust antimicrobial properties directly address the specific challenges faced by these high-risk individuals. The EWD offers an unprecedented and modern approach to wound closure in populations vulnerable to complications.