Skin sealant InteguSeal® has no impact on prevention of postoperative mediastinitis after cardiac surgery.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Surgical site infections (SSIs) after median sternotomy represent a serious complication and a high potential risk for adverse clinical outcome after cardiac surgery. The antimicrobial skin sealant InteguSeal® was introduced as a novel tool in preventing development of SSI.

AIM:

This single-centre investigation used two prospective registries to evaluate the prophylactic effect of a cyanoacrylate-based antimicrobial skin sealant (InteguSeal®) on the incidence of postoperative mediastinitis or any other form of chest skin incision SSI after elective cardiac surgery.

METHODS:

Between October 2010 and April 2011 a total of 998 patients underwent elective cardiac surgical procedures with median sternotomy in our centre. In 496 patients InteguSeal® was included in standard preoperative preparation procedures before chest skin incision (group 1). In 502 patients standard preoperative skin preparation procedures were used without InteguSeal® (group 2). Freedom from mediastinitis and from any other form of SSI within 30 postoperative days were the primary and secondary endpoints, respectively.

FINDINGS:

A total of 983 patients were eligible for inclusion in per-protocol analysis (488 vs 495 patients). The incidence of postoperative mediastinitis was 2.3% in group 1 vs 3.2% in group 2 (not significant). The incidence of any form of SSI was 10.9% in group 1 vs 11.5% in group 2 (not significant). Perioperative patient characteristics, complexity of surgical procedures performed and length of hospitalization were similar in both groups.

CONCLUSION:

The use of InteguSeal® has no influence on the incidence of postoperative SSI and mediastinitis after cardiac surgery with median sternotomy.

• Authors: T Waldow, M Szlapka, J Hensel, K Plötze, K Matschke, L Jatzwauk
• Journal: The Journal of hospital infection (J Hosp Infect) Vol. 81 Issue 4 Pg. 278-82 (Aug 2012) ISSN: 1532-2939 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 22705297 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012 The Healthcare Infection Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Anti-Infective Agents, Local
• Cyanoacrylates
• Tissue Adhesives

Topics

• Aged
• Anti-Infective Agents, Local (therapeutic use)
• Cyanoacrylates (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Incidence
• Male
• Mediastinitis (epidemiology, prevention & control)
• Middle Aged
• Skin
• Surgical Wound Infection (epidemiology, prevention & control)
• Thoracic Surgery
• Tissue Adhesives (therapeutic use)
• Treatment Outcome