A Shaped Pectoralis Major Muscle Flap under Indocyanine Green Fluorescence Angiography for Sternal Wound Infection

Abstract

Summary:. The treatment of a sternal wound infection is challenging because it requires radical debridement and reconstruction with a well-vascularized flap. The defects after debridement are three-dimensionally complex, especially if synthetic grafts are involved. Although the pectoralis major muscle (PMM) flap is useful for reconstruction, it is difficult to fill up the complex dead space surrounding the vascular prosthesis when using a conventional PMM flap. Herein, we describe a new technique of splitting and shaping the PMM flap to fit the complex defect. Intraoperative indocyanine green fluorescence angiography was used to assess dynamic blood flow of the PMM supplied by internal mammary artery perforators. This technique allows the PMM flap to be split and shaped to securely fit the dead space, which may improve the healing rate.