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

A 57-vear-old patient underwent prosthetic replacement of a previously impl anted ascending aorta graft and developed a periprosthetic purulent collect ion I month later. He was successfully treated by debridement of infected t issues, antiseptic irrigation and transposition of an omental flap. The pos toperative course was uneventful. A chest computed tomography scan performe d 15 months later showed no signs of perigraft infection. Prompt conservati ve surgical treatment including omental transposition can be effective in t he treatment of mediastinitis following graft replacement of the ascending aorta. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.