title: Closure of mediastinal wounds with deepithelialized rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flaps.
abstract: Deep and narrow mediastinal defect after sternal debridement can be effectively obliterated by deepithelialized vertical rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flaps, based on the superior epigastric vessels. This composite flap has sufficient mass to obviate the need for additional vascularized tissue and is, therefore, offered as an alternative to multiple flap procedures. It offers a superior cosmetic appearance and better chest stability than a traditional island myocutaneous flap. Eleven patients had their mediastinal wounds repaired by this method with a low complication rate and good final results.
authors.affiliation: State University of New York, Health Science Center at Brooklyn.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fleischer
mesh_terms: D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000637:transplantation; D003646:Debridement / Q000379:methods; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000601:surgery*; D013249:Sternum / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000379:methods*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D013536:Suture Techniques