Fatal bleeding due to sternal steel wire fracture following open-heart surgery

Nowadays, stainless steel wires suturing is the most common and safety way for the median sternotomy closure. And it is also accepted by our center. Albeit, in July 2014, a patient who underwent left ventricular outflow tract plus mitral valvuloplasty in extracorporeal circulation suffered a fatal bleeding due to fractured steel wire. The fractured steel wire punctured the free wall of right ventricle and left a 3 mm diameter wound, thus caused the 1,000 mL drainage within half an hour. In our opinion, it was the instant increase in yield strength after strong cough that makes the steel wire fractured.