Sternal wound infections following open heart surgery - a review.
Surgical site infections (SSIs) are common complications after open heart surgery. Fortunately, most are superficial and respond to minor wound debridement and antibiotics. However, 1-3% of patients develop deep sternal wound infections that can be fatal. Late infections with sternocutaneous fistulas, are encountered less often, but represent a complex surgical problem. This evidence-based review covers etiology, risk factors, prevention and treatment of sternal SSIs following open heart surgery with special focus on advances in treatment, especially negative-pressure wound therapy.
a Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery , Landspitali University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland , Reykjavik , Iceland.
Tomas
T
Gudbjartsson
b Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery , Sahlgrenska University Hospital , Gothenburg , Sweden.
Anders
A
Jeppsson
c Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery , Skane University Hospital , Lund , Sweden.
Johan
J
Sjögren
a Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery , Landspitali University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland , Reykjavik , Iceland.
Steinn
S
Steingrimsson
a Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery , Landspitali University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland , Reykjavik , Iceland.
Arnar
A
Geirsson
d Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery , Orebro University Hospital , Orebro , Sweden.
Orjan
O
Friberg
e Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery , James Cook University Hospital , Middlesbrough , UK.
Joel
J
Dunning
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000401:mortality; D017577:Cutaneous Fistula / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D003646:Debridement; D006801:Humans; D054843:Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy; D012086:Reoperation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D056346:Sternotomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000401:mortality; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
Cardiac surgery; prognosis; risk factors; surgical site infections; treatment