[Healing of operative cardiac wounds]

Healing process of operative cardiac wounds was studied histopathologically in 14 patients who died 28 hours to 5 years after the operation of cardiac valve replacement. Repair of wounds in aorta and free wall of atrium was characterized by production of neointima and proliferation of collagen fiber at adventitia of aorta or epicardium of heart. Adhesion with granulation tissue at left ventricular venting wounds was observed in the case of 18th post-operative day. Reticulofibrosis of surrounding intracardiac muscle played an important role in development of granulation tissue. Cicatrix with collagen fiber was appeared from one month after the operation. In spite of attenuation of ventricular scar, aneurysmal bulging could not be observed. The basic healing pattern of wound in atrial septum was production and thickening of neointima. Granulation tissue rarely developed at the septum. Adhesion between sutured edges of atrial septal endocardium could not be observed and the dead space there remained over a period of 7 months after the operation. These findings indicated the continuous presence of unexpected weakness of the sutured septum until sufficient thickening of neointima had developed.