SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT OF MEDIASTINITIS AFTER CARDIOVASCULAR-SURGERY USING ELECTROLYZED STRONG ACID AQUEOUS-SOLUTION

Dilute povidone-iodine solution has been widely used as an irrigant fo r the treatment of mediastinitis. However, its use is not without adve rse effects and often causes poor growth of granulation tissues. To av oid the problems seen with the use of povidone-iodine solution, we app lied electrolyzed strong acid aqueous solution (ESAAS) to mediastinal irrigation in 4 patients (2 infants and 2 adults) who developed medias tinitis after cardiovascular surgery. According to the ''open'' method , the mediastinal wound was left open and irrigated with ESAAS 1 to 3 times a day until the infection was eradicated. Satisfactory growth of granulation tissues was observed in all patients treated with no evid ence of adverse effects attributable to ESAAS. Delayed primary sternum closure was performed for 2 patients, and musculocutaneous transposit ion of rectus abdominis for 1. Our experience suggests that irrigation with ESAAS is a safe and effective method of therapy for mediastiniti s.