PET-CT imaging in patients with chronic sternal wound infections prior to reconstructive surgery: A case series. Issue 8 (August 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Read, Charlotte; Branford, Olivier A.; Verjee, Liaquat S.; Wood, Simon H.
• Is Part Of: Journal of plastic, reconstructive & aesthetic surgery. Volume 68:Issue 8(2015:Aug.)
• Page Start: 1132
• Page End: 1137
• Publication Date: 2015-08
• Subjects: Surgery, Plastic -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures -- Periodicals; Surgery, Plastic -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 617.9505
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bjps.2015.04.027
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1748-6815

Abstract

<abstract xml:lang="en" abstract-type="author" id="abs0010"> <title id="sectitle0010">Summary</title> <sec> <p id="abspara0010">Late presenting and recurrent sternal wound infections post-sternotomy are difficult to treat, with the clinical picture not necessarily reflecting the underlying problem. As a result of our experience, we suggest that these chronic cases should be managed using a different algorithm to acute sternal wound infection. Positron emission tomography combined with computerized tomography (PET-CT) imaging may be potentially useful in enabling accurate localization of disease sites, which guides adequate debridement prior to definitive reconstruction. It may also allow for disease surveillance and monitoring of the response to antimicrobial treatment. We present three cases which support the need for pre-operative imaging using PET-CT.</p> </sec> </abstract>