Ceftriaxone prophylaxis in cardiovascular surgery in children.

Fifty patients undergoing closed and open heart surgery were prospectively studied for the effectiveness of peri-operative prophylaxis with Ceftriaxone. Twenty-four patients (Gr I) that underwent closed heart surgery received 50 mg/kg single dose of Ceftriaxone given intravenously at the start of anesthesia. Twenty-six patients (Gr II) that underwent open heart surgery received 50 mg/kg. Ceftriaxone given intravenously at the start of anesthesia followed by another 50 mg/kg 24 hours later. The mean duration of surgery in Gr I was 1.7 hours and Gr II was 4.2 hours. The duration of post-operative fever in Gr I ranged from 0-4 days (mean 2.4) and Gr II ranged from 1-13 days (mean 6). The duration of post-operative hospitalization in Gr I ranged from 5-18 days (mean 9) and Gr II ranged from 7-71 days (mean 19). Early and late infectious complications were not found in Gr I. Late infectious complications were not found in Gr I. Late infectious complications in Gr II consisted of 2 cases of pneumonitis, 5 pleural effusions and 1 staphylococcus aureus would infection (36.8%). We concluded that a single dose of Ceftriaxone should provide adequate prophylaxis for closed heart surgery. An additional 2-3 days of daily dose Ceftriaxone may be needed when associated with tissue hypoxia, longer duration of intravenous lines and drainage tubes in open heart surgery.