title: Postoperative mediastinitis in cardiovascular surgery postoperation. Analysis of 1038 consecutive surgeries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report the incidence of mediastinitis in cardiovascular surgery postoperation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The records of all 1038 patients who underwent cardiovascular surgical procedures between May/2007 and June/2009 were reviewed. All operations were performed in Division of Cardiovascular Surgery of Pronto Socorro Cardiológico de Pernambuco - PROCAPE.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The complication occurred within, on average, 13 days after operation, in total of 25 (2.4%), eight (32%) deaths occurred. Several risk factors mediastinitis were identified: 56% diabetes, 56% smokers, 20% obeses, 16% with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 8% of chronic renal failure. Mediastinitis were reported in 21 (84%) cases of patients submitted to coronary artery bypass grafting, being associated to major risk of infection development (IC 3.448.30, P=0.0001). High rates of complications were observed: respiratory insufficiency (44%), stroke (16%), cardiogenic shock (12%), acute renal failure (28%), pulmonary infection (36%), multiple organs failure (16%) and esternal deiscence (48%). Bacterial cultures of exudates were positive in 84% of patients; Staphylococcus aureus was the most responsible pathogen (28.8%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mediastinitis stays a serious surgical complication and difficult management in cardiovascular surgery postoperation. The disease stays with low incidence, but still with high lethality. Coronary bypass was associated to major risk of infection development.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Surgery- HUOC/PROCAPE Hospital Complex - Recife, PE, Brazil. michel_pompeu@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Michel Pompeu Barros de Oliveira
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Sá
authors.forename: Débora Oliveira
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Erika Nibbering de Souza
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Ricardo de Carvalho
authors.initials: Rde C
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Frederico Pires Vasconcelos
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Fábio Gonçalves de
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Rueda
authors.forename: Rodrigo Renda de
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Escobar
authors.forename: Paulo Ernando Ferraz
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Cavalcanti
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D013504:Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000145:classification; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008480:Mediastinitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D016896:Treatment Outcome