Use of Platelet-Rich Plasma to Reduce Sternal Wound Complications After CABG With Median Sternotomy

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether applying autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to the sternal wound during heart surgery improves wound healing and reduces complications after surgery. The study also aims to evaluate whether PRP can reduce hospital-related outcomes and costs.

The main questions this study aims to answer are:

Does the use of PRP reduce superficial \& deep sternal wound infections and rate of readmissions?

Does PRP improve wound healing after heart surgery?

Does PRP reduce the cost of hospitalization and length of ICU stay.

Does PRP reduce the requirement of red cell concentrate (RCC) and platelets to less than 4 units each

Researchers will compare PRP applied to the sternal wound before closure with standard sternal wound closure alone to determine whether PRP provides additional benefit beyond standard surgical care.

Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups.

Participants will:

Receive standard sternal wound closure or PRP applied to the sternal wound followed by standard closure

Be monitored for wound infections and healing outcomes after surgery

Have hospital cost, RCC \& platelet units used, ICU stay, and readmission data recorded during the postoperative period

Patients and outcome assessors were blinded to the treatment assignment. Surgeons were aware of the intervention due to the nature of the procedure.

This study aims to determine whether adding PRP to standard sternal closure can improve recovery and reduce complications following cardiac surgery.

Conditions

• Surgical Site Infection (SSI)
• Mediastinitis
• Delayed Wound Healing

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Application

Autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is prepared from the patient's own blood and applied directly to the sternal wound before standard surgical closure during cardiac surgery. The PRP contains concentrated platelets and growth factors intended to enhance wound healing and reduce infection risk. Patients in this arm receive standard sternal closure after PRP application. The procedure is performed in the operating room after sternotomy and prior to wound closure. The application is performed by the surgeon following standardized protocol to ensure consistent delivery across all participants. This intervention differs from standard closure alone and is intended to improve postoperative wound outcomes.

PROCEDURE

Standard Sternal Wound Closure

Patients in this arm receive the standard surgical closure of the sternal wound following median sternotomy for cardiac surgery. No experimental or additional biologic products are applied. The procedure is performed according to routine surgical protocols used at the study site. This arm serves as the control group, allowing comparison of outcomes such as wound healing, infection rates, ICU stay, hospitalization cost and more than 4 units of RCC \& platelets were assessed with the experimental arm receiving platelet-rich plasma (PRP) application.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Sangeen Khan Wazir, MBBS · Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

45 Years

Max Age

72 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2022-07-07

Primary Completion

2023-01-07

Completion

2023-02-28

Countries

• Pakistan

Study Locations