[Improvement in the prognosis of severe mediastinitis by the use of muscle flaps].

Between 1984 and 1988, 12 mediastinitis were observed in a series of 1.724 cases of cardiac surgical procedures by sternotomy (0.7%). These 12 patients were retrospectively separated in 2 groups in terms of surgical management. In group I (5 patients in 1984 and 1985) the treatment was mediastinal irrigation and in case of failure, an omental transposition. In group II (7 patients in 1986, 86 and 88) the treatment was mediastinal irrigation and in case of failure, a mobilization of muscle flaps. Four patients died in group I of poly-visceral failure with a persistent severe sepsis. In group II, there was no death and the cicatrization was quickly obtained with an average length of stay in intensive care unit of 62 days. The mediastinal irrigation is the treatment of choice for benign mediastinitis, but the prognosis of severe mediastinitis was in our series greatly improved by muscle flap procedures realized with plastic and reconstructive surgical techniques.