Risk Factors for Deep Sternal Wound Infection After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) constitutes a serious complication after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery with potentially devastating consequences for patients. (1) Although median sternotomy is known to offer an excellent approach in CBAG, the impact of DSWI on patient prognosis remains significant. (2) The advances made in the field of prevention allowed the incidence of DSWI to decrease drastically in CBAG operations. (3,4) DSWI has been shown to lead to life- threatening complications linked with an increase in long and short-term mortality, morbidity, cost of care, prolonged hospital stays and in-hospital mortality. (5-8) There are a reported numerous risk factors potentially contributing to the development of DSWI in CABG, including the use of the internal thoracic artery for revascularization, long operative time, reoperation, an excessive use of bone wax and electrocoagulation, peripheral mechanical ventilation and other patient- related immunosuppressive risk factors. (9,10) Metabolic disorders such as diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and obesity leading to increased risk of poor clinical outcomes. (11) The aim of this study is determine the cut off point for some of known risk factors for deep sternal wound infection after Coronary artery bypass grafting.