ATS
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to Personal Folders
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Author home page(s):
Ahmed El Gamel
Mark T. Jones
Colin S. Campbell
Robert A. M. Lawson
Right arrow Permission Requests
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by El Gamel, A.
Right arrow Articles by Lawson, R. A. M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by El Gamel, A.
Right arrow Articles by Lawson, R. A. M.

Ann Thorac Surg 1998;65:41-46
© 1998 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

Original Articles: Cardiovascular

Treatment of Mediastinitis: Early Modified Robicsek Closure and Pectoralis Major Advancement Flaps

Ahmed El Gamel, FRCS, Nizar A. Yonan, FRCS, Rageb Hassan, FRCS, Mark T. Jones, FRCS, Colin S. Campbell, FRCS, Abdul K. Deiraniya, FRCS, Robert A. M. Lawson, FRCS

Cardiothoracic Unit, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, United Kingdom

Accepted for publication June 19, 1997.

Dr El Gamel, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Wythenshawe Hospital, Southmoor Rd, Manchester M23 LT, United Kingdom.

Background. The treatment of sternal wound complications is controversial. It is our practice to combine early aggressive debridement, a modified Robicsek sternal closure, and bilateral pectoralis major advancement flaps with or without closed irrigation in a single procedure. We reviewed our experience to determine the efficacy of this approach.

Methods. Grade II to IV mediastinitis (dehiscence and infection) developed in 47 patients 3 to 14 days after routine open heart operations between 1990 and 1995. Culture-positive infection was identified in 60% (n = 28); 62% (n = 29) had septicemia. Thirty patients underwent incision, drainage, and surgical assessment of the wound. Once systemic signs of infection were under control (no pyrexia, normal white blood cell count), formal single-stage debridement of all infected soft tissues and bones was performed. Sternal stability was achieved using a modified Robicsek closure and bilateral pectoralis major advancement flaps. Seventeen patients were treated with staged procedures.

Results. Early sternal closure and coverage with pectoralis major advancement flaps can be associated with a low mortality (0%), low morbidity (13%; n = 4: three superficial wound infections, one seroma), and shortened hospital stay (median, 22 days, compared with a median of 82 days in patients managed with conservative staged treatment; p < 0.05). Sternal stability with excellent functional and aesthetic results has been achieved in all patients.

Conclusions. The combination of aggressive early surgical debridement, sternal closure, and the placement of bilateral pectoralis major advancement flaps is a simple procedure associated with a low mortality and morbidity and a short hospital stay.






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
ANN THORAC SURG ASIAN CARDIOVASC THORAC ANN EUR J CARDIOTHORAC SURG
J THORAC CARDIOVASC SURG ICVTS ALL CTSNet JOURNALS
Copyright © 1998 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.