Mediastinitis after cardiac surgery — epidemiology and current treatment

Mediastinal infection is a feared complication observed after 0.4%–5% of cardiac operations. Even today the mortality remains as high as 20%–40%. We discuss the aetiology, mechanisms, prevention, diagnosis, and medical management.

The staging system for mediastinal wound infections developed at a joint conference of German cardiac surgical centres is presented. The use of parenteral polyvalent immunoglobulins is also discussed. Copyright © 1999 Taylor and Francis Ltd.