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Role of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in the Treatment of Postoperative Organ/Space Sternal Surgical Site Infections

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Abstract

Background

A prospective trial was designed to evaluate the effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy on organ/space sternal surgical site infections (SSIs) following cardiac surgery that requires sternotomy.

Methods

A total of 32 patients who developed postoperative organ/space sternal SSI were enrolled in this study from 1999 through 2005. All patients were offered HBO therapy. Group 1 included the patients who accepted and were able to undergo HBO therapy (n = 14); group 2 included patients who refused HBO therapy or had contraindications to it (n = 18).

Results

The two groups were well matched at baseline with comparable preoperative clinical characteristics and operative factors. Staphylococcus was the most common pathogen for both groups. The duration of infection was similar in groups 1 and 2 (31.8 7.6 vs. 29.3 5.7 days, respectively, p = 0.357). The infection relapse rate was significantly lower in group 1 (0% vs. 33.3%, p = 0.024). Moreover, the duration of intravenous antibiotic use (47.8 ± 7.4 vs. 67.6 ± 25.1 days, p = 0.036) and total hospital stay (52.6 ± 9.1 vs. 73.6 ± 24.5 days, p = 0.026) were both significantly shorter in group 1.

Conclusion

Hyperbaric oxygen is a valuable addition to the armamentarium available to physicians for treating postoperative organ/space sternal SSI.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Mrs. Sarah Palmisano, Mr. Filippo Barili, and Mr. Ariel A. Benson for their valuable help in preparing and revising this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Milan, Centro Cardiologico Monzino IRCCS, Via Parea 4, 20138, Milan, Italy

    Fabio Barili, Gianluca Polvani, Luca Dainese, Maurizio Roberto, Moreno Naliato, Alessandro Parolari, Francesco Alamanni & Paolo Biglioli

  2. Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, College of Physicians and Surgeon of Columbia University—New York Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University Medical Center, Milstein Hospital Building, 7GN-435, 177 Fort Washington Avenue, New York, NY, 10032, USA

    Veli K. Topkara & Faisal H. Cheema

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  1. Fabio Barili
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  2. Gianluca Polvani
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  3. Veli K. Topkara
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  4. Luca Dainese
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Correspondence to Fabio Barili.

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Barili, F., Polvani, G., Topkara, V.K. et al. Role of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in the Treatment of Postoperative Organ/Space Sternal Surgical Site Infections. World J Surg 31, 1702–1706 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-007-9109-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-007-9109-0

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