title: Achilles tendon for sternal synthesis in the treatment of mediastinitis.
abstract: Surgical approaches to postoperative mediastinitis that imply wire removal achieve earlier infection recovery but leave the patient with sternal instability. In 10 patients after wound surgical debridement, my colleagues and I achieved sternal synthesis by using Achilles tendons retrieved from multiorgan donors and stored in glutaraldehyde. Three tendons were used in each patient; they were passed through the bone at the manubrium and parasternally at the midsternum and the lower sternum. Thirty-day computed tomographic scan results, infection recovery, and quality of life were satisfactory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic and Respiratory Sciences, Second University of Naples, V. Monaldi Hospital, Naples, Italy. marisa.defeo@tin.it
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Feo
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carozza
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Della Corte
authors.forename: Cesare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Quarto
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torella
authors.forename: Luca Salvatore
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: De Santo
authors.forename: Gianantonio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nappi
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cotrufo
mesh_terms: D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000637:transplantation*; D000368:Aged; D001864:Bone Wires; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D003646:Debridement; D020878:Device Removal; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008480:Mediastinitis / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D013249:Sternum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016042:Transplantation, Heterotopic; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome