[Treatment of postoperative anterior mediastinitis, sternal osteomyelitis in a patient with a novel coronavirus infection].

The incidence of mediastinitis after median sternotomy makes up 1-3%. This complication results prolonged hospital-stay, significant increase in treatment cost and high mortality (up to 75%). Severe COVID-19 pneumonia is often manifested by coughing, that impairs sternum stability after osteosynthesis. Moreover, concomitant leukopenia increases the risk of mediastinitis. Viral pneumonia and mediastinitis are complicated by respiratory failure and mutually potentiate the negative effect. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) with combined antibiotic therapy ensures a favorable outcome even in patients with postoperative mediastinitis and osteomyelitis combined with viral pneumonia.