Acute mediastinitis after cardiac operations – 10 years experience

From April 1995 until July 2004 in our department we treated 26 patients with 15 days post.-Op. acute mediastinitis after midline sternotomy for cardiac operation. We present our technique and our results in this serious complications after cardiac operation. Resternotomy, full thick debritement of necrotic tissues (skin-subcutaneous-sternum and mediastinum), continuous ½ washing+ with antibiotic solution and long-term drainage of mediastinum, with i.v. antibiotics is our preferable technique (Mean follow-up. 5.8 y), simplicity, non-flaps technique for closure and no-recurrence of the infection is the advantage of our technique.