Mediastinitis after cardiac surgery--epidemiology and current treatment.
Mediastinal infection is a feared complication observed after 0.4%-5% of cardiac operations. Even today the mortality remains as high as 20%-40%. We discuss the aetiology, mechanisms, prevention, diagnosis, and medical management. The staging system for mediastinal wound infections developed at a joint conference of German cardiac surgical centres is presented. The use of parenteral polyvalent immunoglobulins is also discussed.
Marggraf
G
G
The Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Essen, Germany. guenter.marggraf@uni-essen.de
Splittgerber
F H
FH
Knox
M
M
Reidemeister
J C
JC
D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008480:Mediastinitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D015996:Survival Rate
D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous