Comprehensive management of late mediastinitis involving an aortic Dacron graft

Abstract

We present a case of late mediastinitis following surgery for type A aortic dissection. After a thorough preoperative workup, the patient underwent a redo sternotomy, removal of all prosthetic material, and replacement of the aortic root with a homograft. The patient required venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and delayed sternal closure for post-postoperative biventricular failure as well as prolonged antibiotic treatment. We present our institutional multidisciplinary approach for the management of such complex cases.

Keywords: Endocarditis; Homograft; Mediastinum.