OBJECTIVE: Reported mortality for postoperative @entity1764 treated by debridement alone can reach 40%. The authors' experience with radical debridement and omental transposition is reviewed. METHODS: Between May 1990 and August 1996, 14 @entity1 with untractable @entity1764 had a transfer of the greater omentum: 11 after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) (6 bilateral internal thoracic arteries ITA grafts), one after a heart transplant, one after an aortic valve replacement and CABG, and one after a repair of the aortic isthmus related to a motor vehicle accident. The mean age was 63 +/- 8 years. Infection was proven in all @entity1 by cultures of intraoperative specimens. Two @entity1 had such a large sternal defect that no primary closure could be attempted. The remaining 12 @entity1 had a mean of 1.4 +/- 0.7 previous debridement. Five @entity1 had a total sternectomy. After radical debridement, the omentum was transferred over the entirety of the wound and covered with a meshed thin skin graft. All @entity1 had a minimum of 4 weeks of i.v. antibiotic therapy. RESULTS: There was no operative @entity204 . Apart from one focal @entity39 and one traumatic dehiscence of the omentum, there was no hospital complication. @entity295 was controlled in all @entity1 . The median hospital stay was 31 days (range 20-154 days). At a median follow-up of 20 months (range: 6-44 months), there were two late deaths: one sudden and unexpected @entity204 and one after a re-do CABG. The remaining @entity1 had resumed their previous activities. One @entity1 had developed an incisional @entity547 and another underwent further surgery for cosmetic reasons. CONCLUSION: Radical debridement and omental transposition may achieve a cure for postoperative @entity1764 with good mid-term results.

Radical debridement and omental transposition for post sternotomy XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'patient'] @entity295 :: ('MESH:D018805', 'Disease') :: ['Sepsis'] @entity39 :: ('MESH:D009336', 'Disease') :: ['necrosis'] @entity1764 :: ('MESH:D008480', 'Disease') :: ['mediastinitis'] @entity547 :: ('MESH:D006547', 'Disease') :: ['hernia'] @entity204 :: ('MESH:D003643', 'Disease') :: ['death']
@entity1764 :: (MESH:D008480,Disease) :: ['mediastinitis']
