Intercostal Muscle Flap Reconstruction and Primary Sternal Closure for Mediastinal Abscess

Poststernotomy mediastinal abscess is a life-threatening complication after cardiac operations. A 21-year-old woman had a late presentation of mediastinal abscess 9 years after ascending aortic graft replacement. Three days after the initial débridement and vacuum-assisted closure treatment, successful reconstruction was performed using an intercostal muscle flap and primary sternal closure, without recurrent infection.