Mediastinitis following graft replacement of the ascending aorta: conservative approach by omental transposition

A 57-vear-old patient underwent prosthetic replacement of a previously implanted ascending aorta graft and developed a periprosthetic purulent collection I month later. He was successfully treated by debridement of infected tissues, antiseptic irrigation and transposition of an omental flap. The postoperative course was uneventful. A chest computed tomography scan performed 15 months later showed no signs of perigraft infection. Prompt conservative surgical treatment including omental transposition can be effective in the treatment of mediastinitis following graft replacement of the ascending aorta. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.