Prevention of surgical site sternal infections in cardiac surgery: a two-centre prospective randomized controlled study.

Objectives: Surgical site infection (SSI) of the sternum is a devastating complication in cardiac surgery. The aim of this prospective randomized controlled two-centre clinical study was to compare the use of a gentamicin-collagen sponge (Genta-Coll® resorb) and of a cyanoacrylate-based microbial skin sealant (InteguSeal®) on the SSI rate of the sternum.

Methods: We analysed data from 996 consecutive patients following isolated coronary artery bypass grafting between 2012 and 2014. The patients were randomized into three groups: standard group (S-group), Genta-Coll group (G-group) and InteguSeal group (I-group). The primary study end-point was to analyse the incidence of superficial and deep sternal SSI. The secondary study end-point was to determine independent risk factors for an increased SSI rate.

Results: Of the 996 patients investigated, 332 patients were in S-group, 336 patients in G-group and 328 patients in I-group. The mean age was 67.7 ± 9.4 years, 18.6% were women and the overall SSI rate was 6.2% with 2.2% deep sternal wound infections. SSI rates were 8.3% (S-group), 5.4% (G-group) and 4.9% (I-group) (P 0.16). Multiple regression analysis demonstrated a preoperative body mass index (BMI) of >30 kg/m (P 0.047), re-thoracotomy for postoperative bleeding (P < 0.001) and sternum instability (P < 0.001) as independent predictors for an increased SSI rate.

Conclusions: The application of InteguSeal® or Genta-Coll® resorb had no significant influence on the incidence of the sternal SSI rate in 996 consecutive cardiac surgery patients but demonstrated a trend towards a benefit from using these prophylactic approaches. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated a preoperative BMI of >30 kg/m, re-thoracotomy for bleeding and sternum instability as independent predictors for an increased sternal SSI rate.