title: Computed tomography findings in patients who have undergone muscle flap and omental transposition procedures in the treatment of poststernotomy mediastinitis.
abstract: We studied computed tomographic (CT) appearance of muscle or omental flap transposition procedures in ten patients following clinically diagnosed poststernotomy mediastinitis. Patients were examined either to rule out persistent infection or as part of routine follow-up. An increased amount of soft tissue between open sternal fragments and deformity or apparent "absence" of the utilized muscle were normal postoperative anatomic alterations. Abscess within the flap was diagnosed in one patient who had an abnormal focus of low attenuation in the muscle bundle and scattered air bubbles. An overview with CT correlation of the technical aspects of the reconstructive procedures performed at our institution is provided.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond 23298-0615.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Coppage
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jolles
authors.forename: I L
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Wornom
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008480:Mediastinitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009852:Omentum / Q000637:transplantation*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013249:Sternum / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed