ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of delayed sternal closure (DSC) on sternal wound debridement after pediatric cardiac surgery. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 491 pediatric patients underwent DSC in Guangdong General Hospital between June 2009 and June 2014. There were 333 males and 158 females with age of 1 day to 153.37 (5.68±17.24) months. The rate of sternal wound debridement between the DSC patients and the non-DSC patients was compared. ResultsA total of 454 pediatric patients with DSC initiated in the operation room. And 37 patients with DSC initiated in intensive care unit after emergency sternotomy. A total of 392 patients with delayed sternal closure were discharged. Eight patients gave up treatment for family reasons and 91 patients died. Patients with DSC had higher incidence of sternal wound debridement than the patients with non-DSC did (χ2=6.693, P=0.010). ConclusionDSC is an effective treatment for children with severe cardiac surgery, while it causes higher incidence of sternal wound debridement.