Objective Deep sternal wound infection following coronary artery bypass grafting is a serious complication associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Despite the substantial impact of deep sternal wound infection, there is a lack of specific risk stratification tools to predict this complication after coronary artery bypass grafting. This study was undertaken to develop a specific pro...

AIM The purpose of this study was to assess rates of and risk factors for deep sternal wound infection after coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. BACKGROUND Deep sternal wound infection is one of the most devastating complications of cardiac surgery, resulting in multiple operative and non-operative procedures and increased hospital costs. DESIGN A retrospective design using an existing...

  Introduction: Deep sternal wound infection is a rare but serious complication after cardiac surgery that can increase mortality and morbidity. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and causative germs of deep sternal wound infection following cardiac surgery.   Methods: Data were collected retrospectively from patients who underwent different cardiac surgeries includ...

introduction: deep sternal wound infection is a rare but serious complication after cardiac surgery that can increase mortality and morbidity. the aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and causative germs of deep sternal wound infection following cardiac surgery.   methods: data were collected retrospectively from patients who underwent different cardiac surgeries including coronar...

BACKGROUND The long-term benefit of bilateral internal thoracic grafts (BITA) is well established. BITA grafting is often avoided in diabetic, female, obese, elderly and other high-risk patients because of concerns for deep sternal wound infection. The objective of this study is to analyse early results of our BITA grafting and to establish the safety of BITA use in all patients. METHODS All ...

INTRODUCTION The aim of our study is to present our experience from the management of six patients with deep sternal wood infection and mediastinitis after aortocoronary by pass grafting. CASE SERIES Five Caucasian Greek male patients and a Caucasian Greek female were subjected to aortocoronary by pass grafting. Mean time of sternal dehiscence and mediastinitis was 9-17 (mean 11) days. We man...

Development of robotic technology has enabled totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass grafting (TECAB) procedures. With complete preservation of sternal and thoracic stability, this operation would be an interesting option for obese patients, who are known to be at higher risk for deep sternal wound infection. We describe a case of successful totally endoscopic left internal mammary artery to...

Redo open-heart surgery and sternal reentry in patients with previous deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) and absence of sternal integrity can be a delicate and morbid task due the lack of a dissection plane between the heart and the surrounding soft tissues. Delayed sternal reconstruction and osteosynthesis with horizontal titanium plating fixation (Synthes) following vacuum assisted therapy (...

BACKGROUND Deep sternal wound infection after cardiac surgery carries high morbidity and mortality. Our strategy for deep sternal wound infection is aggressive strenal debridement followed by vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) therapy and omental-muscle flap reconstrucion. We describe this strategy and examine the outcome and long-term quality of life (QOL) it achieves. METHODS We retrospectively ...