Patient selection: mediastinitis after cardiac surgery (CABG)
Outcome: death, either in-patient or after discharge
The one-year overall survival was 82%.
Risk factors for mortality from the multivariate analysis:
(1) mechanical ventilator-associated pneumonia
(2) other co-infections (to the mediastinitis)
While mediastinitis was not the main cause of death, fulminant mediastinitis would be a risk factor for mortality.
Other factors from univariate analysis:
(1) vasopressor support
(2) time spent in ICU before the onset of mediastinitis (29 days vs 18 days)
Causes of death:
(1) multiple-organ failure
(2) heart failure with cerebral anoxia, intestinal ischemia or other complication
(3) severe pancreatitis
