title: Repair of right ventricular free wall defect with a de-epithelized pedicled myocutaneous latissimus dorsi muscle flap.
abstract: Rupture of the right ventricle may occur because of sternal dehiscence or mediastinitis after cardiac surgery. Direct suture, polytetrafluoroethylene patch, fasciae, and muscle flaps have been used to close a right ventricular rupture. A unique occurrence of repair of a full-thickness right ventricle defect with a de-epithelized myocutaneous flap is presented. Our patient experienced a rupture of the right ventricle complicating sternal wound infection. The rupture was reconstructed with a polytetrafluoroethylene patch, but the patch needed to be removed because of infection. The defect was reconstructed with a de-epithelized myocutaneous latissimus dorsi flap. The patient indicated no signs of complication during follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland. tapio.hakala@kuh.fi
authors.forename: Tapio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hakala
authors.forename: Leena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.forename: Ensio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.forename: Kimmo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Makinen
authors.forename: Petri
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sipola
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects; D004848:Epithelium; D006341:Heart Rupture / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000150:complications