title: [Reconstruction of infected median sternotomy wound dehiscence after coronary artery revascularization].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To introduce the experience about the reconstruction of median sternotomy wound dehiscence.
  
  
  METHODS
  From February 2002 to October 2004, 10 patients with median sternotomy wound dehiscence due to coronary artery revascularization were treated. There were 7 males and 3 females, aging from 68 to 76 years. The sizes of defects ranged from 3 cm x 5 cm to 5 cm x 15 cm. After debridement of necrotic soft tissue, sternum and rib, infected median sternotomy wound was reconstructed with rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap, pectoralis major myocutaneous flap and latissimus dorsi flap or single muscle flap. The sizes of flaps ranged from 3 cm x 5 cm to 5 cm x 16 cm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients were followed up from 3 to 11 months with an average of 6 months. All the patients achieved healing by first intention with normal respiration and normal function of upper limbs. The wound of donor site healed well. No abdominal hernia and other complications occurred. The wound of donor site healed well. The results were satisfactory.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to different stages of the disease and different conditions of an operation, the surgical management should vary with each individual.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangzhou Guangdong, PR China. kbdoc@163.com
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kuang
authors.forename: Yunying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Guosan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Deng
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013249:Sternum / Q000601:surgery; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000601:surgery*