Introduction
Deep sternal wound infection(DSWI) after cardiac surgery is a rare but
severe complication, with a reported rate of 0.5-7.5% in the pediatric
population[1,2]. The infection is defined as deep or severe, when
the sternum or mediastinal structures are involved, and it demands
effective surgical and antimicrobial therapy[3]. In adult patients,
various techniques have been used to treat DSWI with good results, such
as vacuum-assisted closure, vascularized muscle
flaps. However,only limited information are available concerning
the treatment of DSWI in infants and children[4-6]. The optimal
treatment of DSWI is still controversial in infants and children, due to
the pathophysiological characteristics and developmental problems.
In this report, we present our experience in treating DSWI following
cardiac surgery with pectoralis major muscle turnover flap(PMMTF)
reconstruction in infants and children, including immediate and
mid-term outcomes.