Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2008; 56(4): 242-243
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1038353
Case Reports

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Interposition of a Thymus Pedicle Flap for the Management of Mediastinitis in a Patient with a Tracheostomy

S.-C. Huang1 , H.-H. Hsu1 , K.-Y. Chen1 , S.-S. Wang1 , Y.-C. Lee1 , 2
  • 1Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan - Republic of China
  • 2Traumatology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan - Republic of China
Further Information

Publication History

Received November 27, 2007

Publication Date:
15 May 2008 (online)

Introduction

The risk of sternal wound infection from a tracheostomy is well recognized [[1], [2]]. Sputum from a tracheal stoma can directly contaminate the underlying sternal wound. Patients with a tracheostomy and deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) have an extremely poor outcome, with a 55 % mortality rate [[2]]. Nonetheless, management of DSWI in patients with a tracheostomy is rarely described in the literature.

References

  • 1 Curtis J J, Clark N C, McKenney C A. et al . Tracheostomy: a risk factor for mediastinitis after cardiac operation.  Ann Thorac Surg. 2001;  72 731-734
  • 2 Force S D, Miller D L, Petersen R. et al . Incidence of deep sternal wound infections after tracheostomy in cardiac surgery patients.  Ann Thorac Surg. 2005;  80 618-621
  • 3 Legarra J J, Sarralde J A, Lopez Coronado J L, Trenor A M. Surgical approach for cardiac surgery in a patient with tracheostoma.  Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 1998;  14 338-339
  • 4 Woodside K J, Zwischenberger J B, Olvera D A, Conti V R. T-modification of sternotomy to accommodate a low-lying tracheostomy.  Ann Thorac Surg. 2004;  77 1109
  • 5 Puma F, Fedeli C, Ottavi P. et al . Laparoscopic omental flap for the treatment of major sternal wound infection after cardiac surgery.  J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2003;  126 1998-2002

Prof. Yung-Chie Lee

National Taiwan University Hospital

No 7 Chung Shan south road

100 Taipei

Taiwan - Republic of China

Phone: + 88 62 23 56 25 57

Fax: + 88 62 23 93 08 77

Email: yclee@ntuh.gov.tw

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