Mediastinitis after cardiac surgery--epidemiology and current treatment.

Eur J Surg Suppl

The Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Essen, Germany.

Published: July 2000

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.

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http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/11024159950188484DOI Listing

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