Intrathoracic muscle flaps in the surgical management of life-threatening hemorrhage from the heart and great vessels.

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Ten patients with real or threatened hemorrhage from either the heart or the great vessels secondary to infection or radiation necrosis (or both) underwent vascular closure techniques followed by reinforcement using an intrathoracic muscle flap. Three patients died during initial hospitalization, two from recurrent bleeding. The other seven patients survived a median of 23.7 months, and none had evidence of infection or bleeding. In patients who have real or impending hemorrhage from the heart or great vessels associated with infection, strong consideration should be given to the intrathoracic transposition of an extrathoracic muscle.