Mediastinitis After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Risk Factors and Long-Term Survival

The incidence of mediastinitis in 18,532 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery was low. The major preventable risk factor of mediastinitis was amount of blood transfusion. Mediastinitis had an excess risk of early morbidity and was associated with a significant reduced long-term survival. Most deaths were considered to be cardiac.