[A case of successful treatment of chronic sternal osteomyelitis and mediastinitis after ascending aorta and hemiarch reconstruction].

Mediastinitis is one of severe and fatal complications after cardiac surgery, especially in the presence of a prosthetic graft. A 70-year-old male, who was suffered from chronic sternal osteomyelitis and mediastinitis after ascending aorta and hemiarch reconstruction was reported. He developed high fever and leucocytosis on the 16th postoperative day. Wound culture was positive for Grampositive organisms. He was diagnosed as having sternal osteomyelitis and mediastinitis and treated by sternal bone debridement and irrigation with dilute povidone iodine solution with no effects. Total excision of the infected sternum, irrigation with non-diluted solution of povidone iodine and omental transfer were performed successfully. The literature regarding omental transfer for mediastinitis and infected prosthetic grafts was briefly reviewed.