Median sternotomy is a surgical procedure in which a vertical inline incision is made along the sternum, after which the sternum itself is divided, or "cracked". This procedure provides access to the heart and lungs for surgical procedures such as heart transplant, corrective surgery for congenital heart defects (CHD's), or coronary artery bypass surgery. Surgery Surgery is the medical specialty that treats diseases or injuries by operative manual and instrumental treatment. ... Cutting is the separation of a physical object, or a portion of a physical object, into two portions, through the application of an acutely directed force. ... Sternum or breastbone is a long, flat bone located in the center of the thorax (chest). ... A congenital heart defect is a defect in the structure of the heart and great blood vessels of the newborn. ... Coronary artery bypass surgery Image showing a tube leading into the heart as well as the chest spreaders used to keep the chest cavity open. ...

Median sternotomy is often mistakenly referred to as open heart surgery; however, open heart involves incision of the pericardium, and many median sternotomy procedures do not require this. Open heart usually involves the use of a cardiac pump, also known as a heart-lung machine. Cardiac surgery is surgery on the heart, typically to treat complications of ischemic heart disease (e. ... The pericardium is a double-walled sac that contains the heart and the roots of the great vessels. ... A cardiac pump or cardiac bypass pump or heart-lung machine temporarily takes over the function of breathing and pumping blood for a patient. ...