Omental Flap for Mediastinitis after Median Sternotomy in Asplenia Syndrome and Gut Malrotation

We describe a 12-year-old patient with asplenia syndrome and gut malrotation who, after an interim step before a modified Fontan operation, developed life-threatening mediastinitis. A flap of the omentum arising from the transverse colon, longitudinally located in the left of the abdomen, was created and transferred to the mediastinum after a division of the arterial arcade at its most caudal extent. Her postoperative course was uneventful, and 12 months later, the modified Fontan operation was successfully completed. Although visceral heterotaxy results in an omental deformation, it does not preclude the use of an omental flap.

Key words:

Asplenia syndrome - Mediastinitis - Gut malrotation - Omental flap

References

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Received for Publication: August 23, 1999