Sternal wound infection after heart transplantation: incidence and results with aggressive surgical treatment

Incidence, Treatment Strategies and Outcome of Deep Sternal Wound Infection After Orthotopic Heart Transplantation

“…Carrier et al reported the only study analyzing the long-term survival of patients with DSWI after OHT and did not show any difference compared to patients without this complication. 5 In our series, we were also able to demonstrate similar long-term survival among the two groups. Our results suggest that the burden of a mediastinal infection in cardiac transplant recipients is limited to the hospitalization.…”

“…1,3,8,9 Two studies focusing on the incidence of this complication after OHT have suggested a 2-to 3-fold increased rate. 4,5 Carrier et al reported a rate of 4.9% DSWI after cardiac transplantation, whereas the annual incidence among their general cardiac surgery patients ranged from 0.1% to 1.4%. 5 Senechal et al reported an incidence of 6.5% DSWI after OHT and stated that this rate was at least 2-fold higher than in patients undergoing conventional cardiac surgery.…”

“…4,5 Carrier et al reported a rate of 4.9% DSWI after cardiac transplantation, whereas the annual incidence among their general cardiac surgery patients ranged from 0.1% to 1.4%. 5 Senechal et al reported an incidence of 6.5% DSWI after OHT and stated that this rate was at least 2-fold higher than in patients undergoing conventional cardiac surgery. 4 These findings are in accordance with our study with a rate of 1.8% DSWI after regular cardiac surgery during the period from 1998 to 2005, whereas the incidence of this complication was 8.7% after OHT.…”

“…10 Carrier et al analyzed 11 patients with DSWI and found a mortality rate of 18% (n ϭ 2). 5 Only Senechal et al reported a lower mortality rate (1 of 15, 7%). 4 This low mortality rate might be explained by the fact that most patients in this studies presented with isolated sternal infection without any concomitant major post-operative complications.…”

“…[1][2][3] Mediastinitis in the setting of OHT has been less studied and the outcome of this condition remains largely unknown. 4,5 The present study was therefore designed to determine the incidence, clinical presentation, treatment strategies and early and late outcome of DSWI after OHT.…”