Rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap after unsuccessful delayed sternal closure.
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.
Shibata
Toshihiko
T
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Osaka City University Medical School, Osaka, Japan. shibata@msi.med.osaka-cu.ac.jp
Hattori
Koji
K
Hirai
Hidekazu
H
Fujii
Hiromichi
H
Aoyama
Takanobu
T
Seuhiro
Shigefumi
S
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