Flap Management following Orthotopic Heart Transplantation: A Single Institution's Review of 66 Sternal Wound Complications 

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Sternotomy wound complications are more frequent in heart transplantation than other types of cardiac surgery due to the presence of additional risk factors, including immunosuppression. Definitive treatment often necessitates flap closure. However, since a 1995 review published by the senior author (J.A.A),  there has been little published on the management of SWC in heart transplant recipients. This study focuses on  the indications, operative characteristics and outcomes in the subset of those patients who have undergone heart transplantation.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 604 sternal wound reconstructions performed by a single surgeon from 1995 to 2023. Patients who underwent heart transplantation as the index cardiac surgery were included. Surgical interventions involved sternal hardware removal, debridement, and muscle flap closure. Cultures of deep tissue and bone were collected.