title: Mediastinitis after cardiac surgery--epidemiology and current treatment.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: The Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Essen, Germany. guenter.marggraf@uni-essen.de
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marggraf
authors.forename: F H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Splittgerber
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Knox
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Reidemeister
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous