post surgery infection

[jujupy]

I am a lawyer and from India. my father is 64 yrs old and he went a bypass surgery 10 months ago for triple valve block.after the surgery my father complained of pain on the ribs and there was profused drainage from the wound. he is a diabetic too. on an MRI scan it was revealed that the wire caused infection and he was read9 admitted( 6 months after the surgery) and 4 out of 6 wires were removed.but even after that the drainage and the pain did not seem to stop and on further analysis it has been revealed that the sternum is infected and he is readmitted, the doctors say that the sternum has to be removed, i do not understand what that means. can my father survive if the sternum is removed, wat else will support him. he is on heavy antibiotics can it be healed with just antibiotics or will he need a surgery again. what is the seriousness, is it very fatal. pls clear my doubt

[kenkeith]

Sometimes there is infection of the sternum subsequent to open heart surgery as well as problems with wires not efectively holding secure union of the sternum. There is a procedure where a flap is placed over the sternum, containing abdominal wall muscle, etc. This serves to protect the chest cavity from minor contact with people and objects, that most people would encounter in daily living. I am providing a link that provides more information that will help you understand condition and treatment.  

Thanks for your question, and if you have any further questions or comments you are welcome to reaspond.  I wish your father well going forward, take care,

Ken
http://www.dukehealth.org/services/plastic_surgery/programs/sternum_chest_wall_reconstruction

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