Homograft patch repair for hemorrhagic mediastinitis

• Published in: The Annals of thoracic surgery Vol. 60; no. 1; pp. 190 - 191
• Main Authors: Felger, Mark C., Miller, O. LaWayne, Calhoon, John H., Sako, Edward Y., Johnson, Scott B., Wittpenn, Gregory P., Trinkle, J. Kent
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01-07-1995; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Aorta, Thoracic - transplantation; Biological and medical sciences; Hemorrhage - etiology; Hemorrhage - surgery; Humans; Male; Mediastinal Diseases - surgery; Mediastinitis - complications; Mediastinitis - surgery; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the respiratory system; Human; Postoperative; Respiratory disease; Mediastinum; Cardiovascular disease; Transplantation; Descending aorta; Homotransplantation; Hemorrhage; Infection; Case study; Treatment; Surgery; Mediastinitis; Bacteriosis; Complication
• ISSN: 0003-4975; 1552-6259
• DOI: 10.1016/S0003-4975(95)00083-6

Hemorrhage from the heart and great vessels is a potentially lethal complication of post-sternotomy mediastinitis. We report 2 cases in which a cryopreserved descending thoracic aortic homograft was used successfully to repair defects of the ascending aorta and right ventricle in the setting of active mediastinal infection. An overview of mediastinitis and management strategies for life-threatening mediastinal bleeding is included.