Homograft patch repair for hemorrhagic mediastinitis.
Hemorrhage from the heart and great vessels is a potentially lethal complication of post-sternotomy mediastinitis. We report 2 cases in which a cryopreserved descending thoracic aortic homograft was used successfully to repair defects of the ascending aorta and right ventricle in the setting of active mediastinal infection. An overview of mediastinitis and management strategies for life-threatening mediastinal bleeding is included.
Felger
M C
MC
Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio 78284-7841, USA.
Miller
O L
OL
Calhoon
J H
JH
Sako
E Y
EY
Johnson
S B
SB
Wittpenn
G P
GP
Trinkle
J K
JK
D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000637:transplantation*; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D008480:Mediastinitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged