الفهرس 
Laboratory investigationsOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
In pediatric cardiac surgery, infection is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. The spectrum of sternal wound infection after cardiac surgery ranges from superficial infection (which involves only skin or subcutaneous tissue) to fulminate mediastinitis with subsequent involvement of the sternum (sternal dehiscence and osteomyelitis) and organ tissues outside the incision.Midline sternotomy is still the incision of choice in cases undergoing open heart surgery for correction of their congenital cardiac lesions. Early diagnosis of mediastinitis and the implementation of an effective treatment strategy are required to avoid mortality among these patients. Despite the frequency with which the median sternotomy incision is used in pediatric cardiovascular surgery, few reports have discussed the diagnosis, management, and treatment strategy of mediastinitis in children. The purpose of our study was to study risk factors, and evolving management strategy for pediatric postoperative cardiac surgery patients who have been diagnosed with deep sternal wound infection. This study was carried out to assess risk factors and their impact on mortality and management of deep sternal wound infection after pediatric cardiac surgery. The study included 30 patients, they were 16 males (53.33%) and 14 females (46.67%) ”Male: Female ratio = 1.14:1”. Their ages ranged from 70days to 11 years (Mean ± SD = 2.383± 2.565). Their weights ranged from 3.800 – 36 Kg. (Mean ± SD = 9.993±6.761). Two patients gave history of prematurity.