Comparison between antibiotic irrigation and mobilization of pectoral muscle flaps in treatment of deep sternal infections.

Between January of 1978 and December of 1983, 41 patients developed deep sternal infections with mediastinitis after cardiac operations. Between January of 1978 and December of 1981, 19 of these patients were treated with débridement, primary wound closure, and mediastinal antibiotic irrigation (Group I). Between January of 1982 and December of 1983, 22 patients were treated with débridement, open "clean" packing, and delayed wound closure by the technique of pectoral muscle flap mobilization, which preserves the thoracoacromial pedicles and the pectoral humeral attachments (Group II). The purpose of this study was to compare the results of the treatment of deep sternal infections after cardiac operations with these two techniques. The perioperative hemodynamic, operation, functional, and pathological profiles of both groups of patients were the same. The cosmetic and functional results were the same in both groups as were shoulder girdle and torso mobility. We conclude that either technique is equally effective in the management of patients in whom the serious complication of deep sternal infection with mediastinitis develops after cardiac operation, and we now recommend débridement and pectoral muscle flap closure in one stage.