OBJECTIVES We studied the influence of the number of sternotomy mechanical fixation points on deep sternal wound infection (DSWI). METHODS Between September 2007 and February 2011, 2672 patients underwent a standard peri-sternal wire closure following a median sternotomy for a first-time cardiac surgery. Data were collected during the study period. RESULTS The mean age of the patients was 6...

OBJECTIVE To identify risk factors for sternal wound infection following coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG), and to compare early and mid-term survival outcome. METHODS Data were prospectively collected for 4228 patients who underwent CABG surgery between April 1997 and March 2001. One hundred and nine (2.6%) patients developed sternal wound infection. We used logistic regression to identi...

Few reports in the literature have documented the isolation of Ureaplasma species from sternal wounds. A case of sternal wound infection likely due to Ureaplasma parvum is described. When routine bacterial cultures from a sternal wound infection fail to yield a pathogen, diagnostic testing for mycoplasmas and ureaplasmas should be considered.

BACKGROUND The long-term benefit of bilateral internal thoracic grafts (BITA) is well established. BITA grafting is often avoided in diabetic, female, obese, elderly and other high-risk patients because of concerns for deep sternal wound infection. The objective of this study is to analyse early results of our BITA grafting and to establish the safety of BITA use in all patients. METHODS All ...

Sternal wound infections (SWI) continue to be a major cause of concern after cardiac surgery. It leads to prolonged hospital stay and increased morbidity, mortality and increased hospital costs. Prophylactic systemic antibiotics have been used to prevent surgical site infection (SSI). However, prolonged postoperative use of systemic antibiotics can lead to emergence of resistant organisms. Gent...

Negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has been used for the treatment of deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) with promising results. However, questions have been raised regarding the potential risk of right ventricle (RV) rupture during treatment. In the present study, we evaluate our clinical experience of NPWT focusing on RV rupture and major bleeding complications and its potentially negati...

a a i r s c p Background. Sternal wound infections are a major omplication after cardiac surgery in terms of morbidity nd cost increase. To decrease the incidence of infection, e evaluated triclosan-coated sutures for the closure of he sternal incision, as it is known that most of the urgical site infections are related to the incision site. Methods. From May to December 2005, a total of 479 at...

Figure 1. Mediastinal defect with exposed pros-thetic aortic root graft. DESCRIPTION A 70-year-old woman with short stature and hypermastia underwent ascending aortic aneurysm repair with a prosthetic graft, complicated by postoperative mediastinitis and sternal dehiscence. She was treated with aggressive sternal debridement and negative pressure wound therapy for 1 week (Fig 1) prior to defini...

BACKGROUND The management of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) with respect to physician practices remains largely unexplored despite increasing efforts to standardize care. In the present study, we report findings from a 2-month audit of all patients that have undergone cardiac surgery at a large referral center in Atlantic Canada. METHODS All patients who underwent cardiac surgical proced...