Table 2.

Categories of mediastinitis (El Oakley and Wright, 1996) (13)

Class	Description
Type 1	Mediastinitis presenting within 2 weeks after operation in the absence of risk factors (as identified in three or more major studies; diabetes, obesity, immunosuppressive therapy)
Type II	Mediastinitis presenting at 2–6 weeks after the operation in the absence of risk factors as above
Type IIIA	Mediastinitis Type I in the presence of one or more risk factors
Type IIIB	Mediastinitis Type II in the presence of one or more risk factors
Type IVA	Mediastinitis Type I, II or III after one failed therapeutic trial (including any surgical intervention with intention‐to‐treat mediastinitis)
Type IVB	Mediastinitis Type I, II or III after more than one failed therapeutic trial
Type V	Mediastinitis presenting for the first time more than 6 weeks after operation