These precautions are meant to protect you and to reduce the risk of infection in your healing sternal incision.
It’s important to practice them at home as you progress throughphysical therapyor related services.
It explains their benefits and answers some questions about practicing sternal precautions.
Image Source / Getty Images
Why Use Sternal Precautions?
A common example is traditionalcoronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery.
Sternal precautions may promote healing and prevent infection by limiting excessive pull on thesurgical incision.
You must fully understand what is expected of you after open heart surgery.
Sternal precautions include:
Be sure to speak with your healthcare provider to understand your specific sternal precautions.
Some healthcare providers stress the importance of pain and your own body signals in determining activity.
Others may allow you to reach one arm overhead or lift five to 10 pounds.
You may find that basic functional mobility is difficult while maintaining sternal precautions.
How Long Should I Maintain Sternal Precautions?
Again, follow the advice of your healthcare provider regarding when to stop following sternal precautions.
Are Sternal Precautions Necessary?
Your surgery may warrant that throw in of precautioneven if another person’s doesn’t.
Talk to your physical therapist to double-check you are moving about properly and maintaining your prescribed precautions.
They can help you to avoid infection, injury, and related complications.
Be sure to follow your healthcare provider’s recommendations, though.
Ask questions if you’re not sure about your precautions.
However, some people experience pain or allergic reaction to the sternal wires.
Their removal has been shown to resolve symptoms in most of these people and is a generally uncomplicated procedure.
First, sit down while getting dressed and choose items that are easy to put on and take off.
Put your feet into pant legs, then stand and pull the waistband up bit by bit.
Always remember to keep your arms close to your sides and never pull on your incision.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Coronary artery bypass grafting: What to expect during surgery.
Precautions versus restrictions - A review of literature and recommendations for revision.Cardiopulm Phys Ther J.
2011;22(1):515.
2016;29(1):97-100. doi:10.1080/08998280.2016.11929379
Gach R, Triano S, Ogola GO, et al.
“Keep Your Move in the Tube” safely increases discharge home following cardiac surgery.PM R. 2021;10.1002/pmrj.12562.
2017;25(2):142146. doi:10.1016/j.jescts.2017.04.004
