We describe an exceptional case of non-fatal septic rupture of the ascending aorta in a patient with sternal dehiscence, deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) and pleural empyema after aortocoronary bypass surgery. Routine follow-up computed tomography (CT) detected a mediastinal pseudoaneurysm originating from the ascending aorta. Thereby, massive and irregular sternal bone defects and contrast-...

1 of 2 DESCRIPTION The incidence of mediastinal wound infection in patients undergoing open heart surgery can be up to 4%. 1 A subgroup of 20–30% of those patients as per El Oakley and Wright 2 develops deep sternal infections. Radical debridement is of a paramount importance, therefore sternal excision becomes a necessity in cases with severe sternal osteomyelitis. Under those circumstances va...

Sternal wound infection is a life-threatening complication after cardiac surgery associated with high morbidity and mortality. Past treatment options have included closed suction and continuous irrigation. Current paradigms in the management of sternal wound infection include surgical debridement, vacuum-assisted closure therapy, flap coverage, and sternal plating. We provide a general overview...

INTRODUCTION Sternal wound infection caused by Mycobacterium chelonae, a member of the rapidly growing nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), is rare and may present without signs and symptoms of systemic infection. METHODS We present a patient who had a M. chelonae infection of the sternum following excision of a left atrial myxoma and conducted a review of the literature from 1976 to 2013. RE...

We describe a patient who underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery performed with an aortic connector. The patient developed a malignant deep sternal wound infection that subsequently led to an aortic pseudoaneurysm at the site of proximal anastomosis.

BACKGROUND Sternal wound infections are a major complication after cardiac surgery in terms of morbidity and cost increase. To decrease the incidence of infection, we evaluated triclosan-coated sutures for the closure of the sternal incision, as it is known that most of the surgical site infections are related to the incision site. METHODS From May to December 2005, a total of 479 patients un...

BACKGROUND Deep and superficial sternal wound infections (DSWI & SWI) following cardiac surgery increase morbidity, mortality and cost. Autologous platelet rich plasma (PRP) derived from the patient's own blood has been used in other surgical settings to promote successful wound healing. The goal of this study was to analyze the addition of PRP using a rapid point of care bedside system to stan...

A 79-year-old female patient was admitted because of profuse bleeding from a skin defect in the anterior chest due to a deep sternal wound infection. Eighteen years earlier, she had undergone irradiation to treat a sternal metastasis from breast cancer. Computed tomography (CT) showed the extravasation of iodinated contrast material from the ascending aorta. The patient underwent an immediate t...

Objective: To compare the outcome of short-term (<24 hours) versus longer-term (>24 hours) antibiotic prophylaxis (ABP) in Diabetic patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery and its impact on in-hospital incidence of deep Sternal Wound Infection (DSWI) / Mediastinitis. Patients and method: We performed a cross sectional comparative study in 160 Diabetic patients undergoing...