Interposition of a Thymus Pedicle Flap for the Management of Mediastinitis in a Patient with a Tracheostomy

Introduction

The risk of sternal wound infection from a tracheostomy is well recognized [[1], [2]]. Sputum from a tracheal stoma can directly contaminate the underlying sternal wound. Patients with a tracheostomy and deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) have an extremely poor outcome, with a 55 % mortality rate [[2]]. Nonetheless, management of DSWI in patients with a tracheostomy is rarely described in the literature.

References

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