title: Rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap after unsuccessful delayed sternal closure.
abstract: Open chest management is one of the best options for severely impaired hearts after open-heart surgery. Reapproximation of sternal edges compresses the heart, so a less compressive method of chest wall reconstruction should be considered when sternal closure must be delayed. We applied a rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap approach in 3 patients after difficulties with delayed sternal closures. Two patients were weaned off intraaortic balloon pumping and survived without respiratory troubles or wound complications. This alternative method of chest reconstruction is useful in patients after an unsuccessful delayed sternal closure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Osaka City University Medical School, Osaka, Japan. shibata@msi.med.osaka-cu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Toshihiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shibata
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hattori
authors.forename: Hidekazu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hirai
authors.forename: Hiromichi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: Takanobu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aoyama
authors.forename: Shigefumi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seuhiro
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017568:Rectus Abdominis / Q000637:transplantation; D013249:Sternum; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D035441:Thoracic Wall / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D014945:Wound Healing