OBJECTIVES This study aimed to compare vacuum-assisted closure therapy (VAC) and closed irrigation drainage therapy (CID) for deep sternal wound infection treatment in infants. METHODS From January 2008 to March 2018, 69 patients (1.73%) had deep sternal wound infection. They were divided into 2 groups: patients treated with VAC therapy (VAC group, 29 patients) and those treated with CID therapy (CID group, 40 patients). After performing a propensity score analysis (1:1) for the entire sample, 16 patients receiving VAC therapy were matched with 16 patients receiving CID therapy. RESULTS No significant difference was noted between both groups regarding age [d = 0.045; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.99–1.07], gender (d = 0.001; 95% CI 0.22–4.45), weight (d = 0.011; 95% CI 0.73–1.35), body surface area (d = −0.023; 95% CI 0.01–5733.08), cardiopulmonary bypass (d = 0; 95% CI 0.16–5.90) and open chest duration (d = −0.112; 95% CI 0.31–5.16). Five patients died in the CID group (31.25%) during hospital stay, and there were no deaths in the VAC group (P = 0.024). Recurrence of mediastinitis occurred in 1 patient (6.25%) from the VAC group and in 6 patients (37.5%) from the CID group (P = 0.037). The multivariable regression analysis revealed that the CID method was the only risk factor for remediastinitis (odds ratio 17.3; 95% CI 1.04–286.75; P = 0.046). CONCLUSIONS Use of VAC therapy in infants with deep sternal wound infection was associated with a substantial decrease in the mortality rate and duration of therapy compared with CID technique. The CID technique was an independent risk factor for recurrence of mediastinitis.

We have not revealed significant difference in the freedom from first reintervention among types of conduit. Calcification leading to the conduit dysfunction was present in all groups; however, diepoxy-treated porcine aortic conduits demonstrated suboptimal results in terms of calcification at follow-up.

Each xenogeneic material requires individual anticalcification strategy. DE + CEABA pretreatment demonstrates a high mineralization-blocking efficacy for the bovine pericardium and should be employed to further develop the paediatric pericardial conduit. Aortic wall calcification cannot be blocked completely using this strategy.

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