Reconstruction of the chest wall with external metal brace: alternative technique in poststernotomy mediastinitis.

Objective: To demonstrate the experience with the reconstruction of the chest wall utilizing metal brace to reduce the tension in the suture lines of myocutaneous flap in cases of mediastinitis.

Methods: From July 2001 to February 2006, 1389 heart surgeries were performed in our institution of which eight (0.6%) developed mediastinitis.