Introduction
Deep sternal wound infection(DSWI) after cardiac surgery is a rare but severe complication, with a reported rate of 0.5-7.5% in the pediatric population[1,2]. The infection is defined as deep or severe, when the sternum or mediastinal structures are involved, and it demands effective surgical and antimicrobial therapy[3]. In adult patients, various techniques have been used to treat DSWI with good results, such as vacuum-assisted closure, vascularized muscle flaps. However,only limited information are available concerning the treatment of DSWI in infants and children[4-6]. The optimal treatment of DSWI is still controversial in infants and children, due to the pathophysiological characteristics and developmental problems.
In this report, we present our experience in treating DSWI following cardiac surgery with pectoralis major muscle turnover flap(PMMTF) reconstruction in infants and children, including immediate and mid-term outcomes.