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Risk Factors for Sternal Wound Infection in Child After Cardiac Surgery

Purpose: To identify a pediatric patient who is at risk for a sternal wound infection following cardiac surgery based on the study of Ben-Ami et al.

Description

Ben-Ami et al identified risk factors for a sternal wound infection in a child following cardiac surgery. This can help to identify a patient who may benefit from more aggressive management. The authors are from Tel-Aviv University and Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel.


Patient selection: cardiac surgery with median sternotomy

 

Exclusion: cardiac transplant; surgery for mediastinal or pulmonary disease

 

Parameters:

(1) type of heart disease

(2) duration of central venous catheter (CVC) use postoperative

(3) age

 

Risk factors for sternal wound infection after cardiac surgery:

(1) cyanotic heart disease (odds ratio 5)

(2) central venous catheter for >= 5 days (odds ratio 1.15 per day; odds ratio 2 after 5 days; mean duration 10 days in those with sternal wound infection)

(3) age <= 18 months (average age in sternal wound infection group 9 months; odds ratio 0.63 for each additional year)

 

Removal of the central venous catheter as soon as possible would reduce risk, but this may be a marker for a sicker child.


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Specialty

Objective

ICD-10