title: Mediastinitis complicating successful mechanical bridge to heart transplantation.
abstract: A 22-year-old man with severe end-stage cardiomyopathy required placement of a left ventricular assist device. Purulent mediastinitis and peritonitis developed while the device was in place. The patient survived a prolonged course of treatment, with mediastinal and peritoneal irrigation and parenteral antibiotics, before undergoing a successful heart transplantation 12 weeks after placement of the left ventricular assist device.
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Surgery Section of Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church, Va.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Rooks
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Burton
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Lefrak
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Macmanus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000601:surgery*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008480:Mediastinitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents