Efficacy and safety of pectoralis muscle flap combined rectus abdominis muscle sheath fasciocutaneous flap for reconstruction of sternal infection

Abstract

Few studies have assessed the efficacy and safety of reconstruction of sternal infection using a pectoralis muscle flap combined with a rectus abdominis muscle (RAM) sheath fasciocutaneous flap. We report here our experience with this procedure to reconstruct the sternal defect in patients (n = 46) with a deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) after cardiac surgery. After wound reconstruction, the proportion of prolonged mechanical ventilation use and intensive care unit (ICU) stay were 17.4% (n = 8) and 21.7% (n = 10), respectively. The 30-day all-cause mortality was 15.2%; recurrence rate was 17.4%; postoperative complications were 15.2%; and median hospital stay was 31 (0-157) days. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that hypertension (β = 21.32, 95%CI 4.955-37.68, P =.014), drainage-tube use (β = 0.944, 95%CI 0.273-1.614, P =.008), and prolonged intensive care unit stay (β = 53.65, 95%CI 31.353-75.938, P