[Postoperative sternomediastinitis: morphology of lesion, treatment strategy].

Objective: To analyze bone tissue damage at different stages of disease (El Oakley classification), treatment options for each clinical situation and results after each approach.

Material and methods: There were 45 patients with wound complications after cardiac surgery between October 2022 and September 2023. Thirty-eight (84.4%) patients underwent CABG, 7 (15.6%) patients - heart valve or aortic surgery. Mean age of patients was 68.1±10.3 years. There were 35 men (77.8%) and 10 women (22.2%). The first type was found in 11 (24.5%) patients, type 2-3 - 19 (42.2%), type 4 - 4 (8.8%), type 5 - 11 (24.5%) patients.

Results: Systemic inflammatory response syndrome was observed in 7 (36.8%) persons of the 1^st group, 14 (73.7%) ones of the 2^nd group, 4 (100%) patients of the 3^rd group and 2 (18.2%) patients of the 4^th group. C-reactive protein and procalcitonin increased in all patients with the highest values in groups 2 and 3. Redo soft tissue inflammation occurred in all groups after treatment. Mean incidence was 25%. Two (10.5%) patients died in the 2^nd group and 1 (25%) patient in the 3^rd group.

Conclusion: The modern classification of sternomediastinitis does not fully characterize severity of disease in a particular patient. Simultaneous debridement with wound closure demonstrates acceptable mortality (within 10%). The highest mortality rate was observed in patients with diffuse lesions of the sternum. Less aggressive treatment approaches are possible for stable anterior chest wall.