title: Reconstruction of infected abdominal wall defects using latissimus dorsi free flap.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Infected abdominal defects are a challenge to surgeons. In this study, we describe 10 cases in which the latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap was used for successful reconstruction of abdominal wall defects severely infected with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of 10 patients with abdominal wall defects that were reconstructed using the latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap between 2002 and 2010. All patients had abdominal defects with hernias, combined with MRSA infections. The sizes of the flaps ranged from 120 to 364 cm(2) . The deep inferior epigastric artery was the recipient vessel in nine patients and the internal mammary vessels were used for one patient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no complications relating to the flaps, although there were other minor complications including wound dehiscence, haematoma and fluid correction. After reconstruction, there were no signs of infection during follow-up periods, and the patients were satisfied with the final results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reconstruction using the latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap, including muscle fascia structures, is a potential treatment option for severely infected large abdominal wall defects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, College of Medicine, Catholic University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Wha
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang Chul
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Kyu Tae
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Byung Kyu
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Jeong Tae
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Youn Hwan
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D003646:Debridement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007412:Intestinal Fistula / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; D008875:Middle Aged; D064827:Myocutaneous Flap; D054843:Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000150:complications*; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting