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Ann Thorac Surg 2003;76:974
© 2003 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

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Correspondence

Right ventricular rupture during use of high-pressure suction drainage in the management of poststernotomy mediastinitis

^a Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK

e-mail: yabuomar@doctors.org.uk

The first 20% of the full text of this article appears below.

To the Editor:

We read with interest the article by Fleck and colleagues [1] describing their experience with the vacuum-assisted wound closure system. Poststernotomy mediastinitis after a cardiac surgical procedure carries substantial morbidity and mortality. A safe and effective strategy involving reexploration and debridement followed by application of high-pressure suction drainage through polyurethane foam for a period prior to delayed primary wound closure has been reported from our center [2]. Since adopting this method of management, we have encountered the rare complication of right ventricular (RV) rupture in 2 patients. The cases of these patients are summarized to highlight this serious complication and to discuss the lessons learned.

The first patient developed sternal instability with discharge 8 . . . [Full Text of this Article]

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