title: Combined vacuum-assisted closure treatment with laparoscopic mobilization of an omental flap and meshed skin grafts for reconstruction of infected sternotomy wounds: two cases.
abstract: In cardiac surgery, poststernotomy wounds are life threatening complications, with mortality up to 50%. We described two patients, who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting and postoperatively developed a deep sternal wound infection. Reconstruction was combined with vacuum-assisted closure treatment, laparoscopic mobilization of an omental flap and split thickens skin grafts. The omental flap is a well-vascularized local flap with a large surface area and has excellent immunologic and angiogenic properties. Both patients recovered completely. In our opinion, vacuum-assisted closure treatment and laparoscopic mobilization of great omentum is suitable option for treating deep sternal wounds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia. veir.zoran@gmail.com
authors.forename: Zoran
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Veir
authors.forename: Sanda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Smud
authors.forename: Branko
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bogdanić
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cvjeticanin
authors.forename: Dinko
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bagatin
authors.forename: Anto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dujmović
authors.forename: Mladen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Duduković
authors.forename: Radojko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ivrlac
authors.forename: Kresimir
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bulić
authors.forename: Davor
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mijatović
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054843:Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy; D009852:Omentum / Q000098:blood supply / Q000637:transplantation*; D056346:Sternotomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000601:surgery*