Surgicel ® packing remnants mimicking mediastinitis after adult cardiac surgery

Surgicel ® is one of the most commonly used bioabsorbable topical haemostatic agents. Some articles have reported that Surgicel ® remnants might be misdiagnosed as an abscess. However, the number of reports in the cardiothoracic surgical field is limited. Herein, we report a 65-year-old woman who was suspected of having mediastinitis on computed tomography after redo-Bentall operation. Reoperation revealed that internal accumulation of Surgicel ® remnants mimicked mediastinitis. It is important to share the use and location of Surgicel ® with radiologists. If mediastinitis cannot be ruled out, the next step of reoperation or magnetic resonance imaging should be promptly taken.