The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 25, 470-473, Copyright © 1978 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Delayed mediastinal infection after ventricular aneurysm resection
RM Engelman, A Saxena and S Levitsky
A patient developing delayed mediastinal infection following ventricular
aneurysm resection and double coronary bypass is presented. The source of
sepsis was infection of a ventriculotomy incision that had been closed with
Teflon-felt buttresses. Diagnosis was established by an increasing opacity
on the lateral chest roentgenogram with a stable sternal wound. Treatment
was ultimately successful only after removal of the infected Teflon and
replacement by simple mattress closure. The need to remove the infected
foreign body was clearly established by the initially unsuccessful attempt
at simple debridement.