Complicaciones infecciosas : Mediastinitis

Abstract

Mediastinitis is among the most feared infectious complications in patients undergoing coronary bypass, with incidences ranging up to 4.4 %. Risk factors associated with this condition have been documented, among which are: the number of compromised vessels, advanced age, obesity, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and diabetes mellitus. Health personnel should be aware of warning signs such as fever, chest pain, sternal instability, or purulent drainage from the sternal area. Pathologies such as COPD, hypertension and diabetes mellitus should ideally be compensated prior to surgery to reduce surgical risk. There are variables such as the surgical pump time or the number of units of transfused blood products that are not established prior to the presurgical time, but that influence the risk of mediastinitis. Another risk factor of great importance is the hospital stay, whether pre-surgical or postoperative, as well as a history of having had recent infections prior to cardiac surgery.