The Infected Median Sternotomy Wound

In Brief Treatment of patients with infected median sternotomy wounds includes debridement and closure using vascularized tissue, most often the pectoralis major muscle. However, occasionally, surgeons use other flaps to close sternotomy wounds. The purpose of this study is to review 1 center's experience with infected median sternotomy wounds utilizing a less common technique, the rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap. Thirty-four sternotomy infections were successfully reconstructed with one-stage rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flaps. Flap complications (29%) were more common with older age, female gender, obesity, pre-existing medical illness, and longer interval to reconstruction.