Factors Affecting the Incidence of Wound Infection in Patients after Valve Replacement

Abstract

P ostoperative sternal wound infections cause considerable extra morbidity, mortality and costs. This study was conducted in the Unit of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Minia University Hospital, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Ain-shams University Hospital undergoing valve replacement in the period between July 2016 to July 2017 on 108 patients undergoing valve replacement. Included both gender from 16 to 70 years elective cases after exclusion association with CABG patients. Diagnosis was done by routine preoperative clinical, laboratories and echocardiography. Post-operative assessment of wound was for one month. They can be divided into superficial infections reaching the dermis and subcutaneous tissue, and deep sternal wound infections (DSWIs) that reach under the sternum and the anterior mediastinum. Data collected and analysis about risk factors for SWI can be categorized into patient’s factors (e.g., age, smoking status,obesity, comorbidities of diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), intraoperative factors (e.g., duration of operation, massive bleeding, hemostatic procedure), and perioperative factors (e.g., need for re-exploration,support postoperatively, length of stay in intensive care unit, and the time on mechanical ventilation).