title: Vacuum-assisted closure for pediatric post-sternotomy mediastinitis: are low negative pressures sufficient?
abstract: We present 3 cases of pediatric post-sternotomy mediastinitis treated by a vacuum-assisted closure (VAC). The patients 2 girls, aged 6 months and 10 months, and a 2-year-old boy. The onset of infection was at 9, 14, and 32 postoperative days. The culture examination detected coagulase-negative Staphylococci strains in 2 cases, and Staphylococcus aureus in 1 case. A VAC was performed at -50 mm Hg for 10, 12, and 7 days. The wounds were closed without vascularized soft tissue. A VAC under a low negative pressure is a useful and safe procedure for the management of pediatric post-sternotomy mediastinitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan. tkadoha@asahikawa-med.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kadohama
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Akasaka
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nagamine
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakanishi
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kiyokawa
authors.forename: Kazutomo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Goh
authors.forename: Tadahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sasajima
mesh_terms: D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008480:Mediastinitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D054843:Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000628:therapy*; D013249:Sternum / Q000601:surgery