Surgical Support Bras
Surgical support bras were introduced to promote patient comfort and decrease the incidence of sternal wound infection. Many of the women who had surgery, particularly if they had large breasts, reported significant pain after surgery. Also, where the left internal mammary artery was used in bypass surgery also contributed to the pain. For some women, incisions came apart after the surface stitches dissolved.
As the use of these bras evolved, the women were measured for the bras pre-operatively and the bras were attached to their charts and applied before the women left the operating room, depending on individual circumstances. If they arrived in the intensive care units without the bras, these were applied as soon as the patient was settled.
Bras provided stability and support to the breasts, easing the pressure on the incision and providing significant pain relief.
