VACUUM THERAPY AND PECTORALIS MAJOR MUSCLE FLAP COMBINATION IN TREATMENT OF STERNAL INFECTIONS: A CASE REPORT

Wound infections subsequent to cardiac surgery are challenging surgeons because of being life-threatening situations and these infections are among conditions that require multidisciplinary approach. Antibiotherapy, surgical debride-ments, regional or free flap surgeries are used by multidisciplinary approach in the treatment of sternal wound infections. Beside these known alternatives, some other methods are advanced for wound care. However; sternal instability, ventricular rupture and pneumonia may be mortal in many patient as the course of the disease. In this article, a negative pressure wound therapy and reconstruction with pectoralis major muscle flap was introduced for postoperative mediastinitis occurred in a diabetic, coronary bypass patient. A wound therapy, that controls infection and supplies wound care as an effective treatment alternative for highly mortal mediastinis cases.