To describe a method of reducing the risk of sternal wound infection after sternotomy in children with a pre-existing tracheostomy. To report our outcomes using this method from 1 January, 2013 to 31 August, 2023.

We describe a method for temporarily occluding the tracheal stoma with a removable implant with the primary goal of reducing the risk of sternotomy wound infection by preventing soilage due to tracheostomal secretions. We then performed a retrospective review of all children who underwent temporary tracheostomal occlusion between 1 January, 2013 and 31 August, 2023 at our quaternary care children’s hospital. Clinical variables were extracted from the hospital medical records. The rates of antibiotic use and minor and major complications during the period when the stoma plug was in place were recorded.

Totally, 19 patients underwent tracheal stoma plugging prior to sternotomy and were included in our analysis. There were two cases of sternal wound infection; one case occurred while the stoma plug was in place, and one developed four days following plug removal. There was one minor complication, with one patient requiring stoma revision via serial dilation at bedside at the time of recannulation. There were no deaths.

Temporary occlusion of the tracheal stoma with an impermeable plug is a viable option for reducing the risk of sternal wound infection in children with a pre-existing tracheostomy who are undergoing sternotomy.

Isolated coarctation of the aorta can be repaired by either lateral thoracotomy or sternotomy approach with end-to-end anastomosis. Most commonly, neonates with coarctation of the aorta also have hypoplasia of the arch, requiring median sternotomy and extended end-to-side anastomosis with arch augmentation. The aim of this study was to describe our experience as the institution adopted the median sternotomy approach for repair, by reviewing complications, mortality, and reintervention.

Retrospective chart review of 66 patients aged 0–1 year who had arch repair performed by a single surgeon over an 8-year period was performed. Median age at surgery was 22 days (4–232) and median weight was 3.08 kg (1.25–8.0). Forty-one (62%) patients underwent median sternotomy.

There was 1 death from a noncardiac cause. Eighteen per cent of our patients were ≤2.5 kg. Vocal cord paresis occurred in 16% of patients under 2.5 kg and 9.5% of patients 2.5 kg or above at the time of surgery. Hypertension at 6-month follow-up was greater in patients under 2.5 kg (44%) than patients 2.5 kg or above (15%). Total surgical reintervention rate was 6%. For patients above 2.5 kg, the surgical reintervention rate was 5.4% and for patients below 2.5 kg, the surgical reintervention rate was 8.3%.

We concluded that for neonates with coarctation of the aorta and hypoplastic arch, median sternotomy is a safe surgical approach with low morbidity and mortality with the possible advantage of reduced surgical re-intervention and mortality in the population below 2.5 kg.

Heart transplantation has been an option for children in Sweden since 1989. As our unit faced an increased rate of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder, the objective of the study was to identify possible risk factors.

This is a retrospective study of all children aged 0–18 years who underwent heart transplantation in Gothenburg from 1989 to 2014.

A total of 71 children underwent heart transplantation. The overall incidence of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder was 14% (10/71); however, 17% (6/36) of those undergoing transplantation after 2007 developed lymphoma, compared with only 10% (4/35) of transplantation cases before 2007 (p=0.85). The mean age at transplantation was 9 years (0–17). The mean post-transplant follow-up time was 5.5 years (0.5–21.9) in the group that developed post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder, compared with 10.2 years (0.02–25.2) in those who did not. In our study group, risk factors for post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder were surgically palliated CHD (p=0.0005), sternotomy during infancy (p⩽0.0001), hypoplastic left ventricle (p=0.0001), number of surgical events (p=0.0022), mismatch concerning Epstein–Barr virus infection – that is, a positive donor–negative recipient (p⩽0.0001) – and immunosuppressive treatment with tacrolimus compared with ciclosporine (p=0.028).

This study has three major findings. First, post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder only developed in subjects born with CHD. Second, the vast majority (9/10) of the subjects developing the disorder had undergone sternotomy as infants. Third, the number of surgical events correlated with a higher risk for developing post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder.

Chronic pain is common after sternotomy in adults with reported prevalence rates of 20–50%. So far, no studies have examined whether children develop chronic pain after sternotomy.

Postal questionnaires were sent to 171 children 10–60 months after undergoing cardiac surgery via sternotomy at the age of 0–12 years. The children were asked to recall the intensity and duration of their post-operative pain, if necessary with the help from their parents, and to describe the intensity and character of any present pain. Another group of 13 children underwent quantitative sensory testing of the scar area 3 months after sternotomy.

A total of 121 children, median (range) age 7.7 (4.2–16.9) years, answered the questionnaire. Their age at the time of surgery was median (range) 3.8 (0–12.9) years, and the follow-up period was median (range) 4 (0.8–5.1) years. In all, 26 children (21%) reported present pain and/or pain within the last week located in the scar area; in 12 (46%) out of the 26 children, the intensity was ≥4 on a numeric rating scale (0–10). Quantitative sensory testing of the scar area revealed sensory abnormalities – pinprick hyperalgesia and brush and cold allodynia – in 10 out of 13 children.

Chronic pain after cardiac surgery via sternotomy in children is a problem that should not be neglected. The pain is likely to have a neuropathic component as suggested by the sensory abnormalities demonstrated by quantitative sensory testing.

Large substernal goitres present a challenge to the otolaryngologist due to their size and location. Predicting which patients will require sternotomy can enable planning of surgery in a specialist centre, with the assistance of a thoracic surgeon. Our aim for this study was to establish clinical and radiological predictors which would aid the otolaryngologist in the pre-operative planning of such cases.

A retrospective medical record review was conducted for all patients undergoing thyroidectomy for substernal goitre who required sternotomy in our institution over a 10-year period.

During the study period, 140 patients with substernal goitres underwent thyroidectomy. Three patients (2 per cent) required sternotomy. These cases are described.

Radiological evidence of extension of a substernal goitre to the aortic knuckle, or loss of tissue planes on computed tomography, should raise suspicion that the patient may require sternotomy for safe delivery of the gland. The otolaryngologist should plan surgery for these patients in a specialist centre, with the help of a thoracic surgeon.