Anterior mediastinal herniation of the transverse colon after an omental flap transposition
Halldorsson, A.; Meyerrose, G.; Griswold, J.
American Surgeon 73(4): 367-370
2007
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-1348 PMID: 17439030 Document Number: 610688
Poststernotomy mediastinitis continues to be an infrequent but serious complication after cardiac surgery. We present a case of a 59-year-old man who developed a deep sternal wound infection after an emergency cardiac surgery. Omental transposition flap was used to cover the sternal defect. Several days later, the patient developed a transverse colon herniation into the anterior mediastinum that required emergency exploration and colon resection. The patient survived after a difficult hospital course. Indications, technical points, and possible complications of using omental flap transposition are discussed.