sternotoomia
Sternalotomy is a surgical procedure that involves cutting through the sternum, or breastbone, to access the organs within the chest. This is most commonly performed during open-heart surgery, such as coronary artery bypass grafting, valve replacement, or repair of congenital heart defects. The sternum is typically divided vertically along its midline, a technique known as a median sternotomy.
Before the procedure, the patient is placed under general anesthesia. The skin over the sternum is incised,
After the cardiac surgery is complete, the sternum is rejoined using surgical wires, which are typically left