Aim: To compare the results of plastic reconstructions of the infected chest wall defects using either muscular, or omental flaps.
Material and methods: There were 29 thoracic reconstructions performed in the Clinic of Thoracic Surgery, Kaunas University of Medicine Hospital, due to infected chest wall defects in the last 30 months. In 14 cases (48.3%) pedicled omental flaps and in 15 cases (51.7%) muscular flaps were used. The groups of patients were comparable according to gender, age, underlying pathology, and perioperative risk. The retrospective analysis of case reports was carried out; the duration of the surgery and of postoperative stay, as well as morbidity were analyzed.
Results: Only duration of the surgery differed statistically significantly (255+/-21 min in the first and 172+/-34 min in the second group), but there was a tendency the morbidity to be lower in the group of pedicled omental flaps.
Conclusion: The pedicled omental flaps could be used safely and successfully for reconstruction of infected chest wall defects.