Extensive analysis of risk factors associated with surgical site infections post‐cardiothoracic open surgery

Abstract

Surgical site infections (SSIs) post-cardiothoracic surgery represent a significant challenge in patient care. Understanding the risk factors contributing to SSIs is essential for improving surgical outcomes and patient safety. A comprehensive retrospective analysis was conducted at our institution from January 2021 to December 2022. This study included 30 patients with SSIs and 60 without, following cardiothoracic open surgery. Data were collected on various variables, including hypertension, anaemia, operation time, hospital stay, alcohol consumption, smoking habits, Body Mass Index, age, and drainage tube placement. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed using SPSS software to identify significant predictors of SSIs. Univariate analysis indicated a strong correlation between SSIs and factors like smoking, diabetes mellitus, drainage tube placement, anaemia, and significant intraoperative blood loss (≥800 mL). These factors were statistically significant with p-values < 0.05. Multivariate logistic regression further confirmed the impact of these factors, with high odds ratios indicating a substantial increase in SSI risk associated with these conditions. This study highlights intraoperative blood loss, anaemia, drainage tube placement, smoking, and diabetes mellitus as key risk factors for SSIs post-cardiothoracic surgery. Recognising and addressing these factors through targeted preventive measures is crucial in clinical practice to reduce the incidence of SSIs and improve postoperative care in cardiothoracic surgery.