Abstract

 

Severe sternal wound infection following open heart surgery represents a rare but life-threatening complication. It requires prolonged hospitalization and high cost. Debridement and irrigation with saline are the most common used methods for treatment, in case of failure of these treatment regimens, sternal resection and reconstruction with pectoralis muscle flap may be necessary. We reported 4 cases with deep sternal infection after open heart surgery and we introduced our results of strategy on surgical sternal wound debridement and reconstruction with pectoralis major muscle flaps.

Key Word: open heart surgery, Sternal infection, Wound treatment, Pectoralis flaps