[Use of myoplasty after acute mediastinitis occurring after heart surgery. Apropos of 167 cases]

Infected median sternotomy often requires open wound management. A large thoracic defect usually results in subsequent exposure of heart, great vessels, aorto-coronary bypass grafting or vascular prosthesis. After thorough wound debridement, coverage with muscle transposition was carried out in a series of 167 cases observed over a period of 10 years. Transposition of both pectoralis major muscles on internal pedicles was performed in 75 cases. In 27 of these cases, internal mammary grafting did not preclude their use. Since 1986, intrathoracic transposition of the trapezius muscle has been our treatment of choice in 25 cases, most frequently combined with a double pectoralis major transposition. Rectus abdomini muscle flap was seldom used alone whereas latissimus dorsi was mainly used as a salvage flap. Muscle transposition provided effective heart and great vessel protection after acute hemorrhage in 18 cases. This series confirms that mortality and mean hospital stay have decreased dramatically since the routine use of muscle transposition.