Resolution of refractory perigraft seroma from Triplex graft after 14 months of percutaneous fluid drainage: a case...

A 21-year-old female patient had undergone two open heart surgeries in childhood, including Konno ventriculoplasty with mechanical aortic valve replacement. She underwent a redo mechanical aortic valve replacement and patch enlargement of stenotic ascending aorta using a triplex prosthetic graft. Unfortunately, 1 month after surgery, the patient was readmitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of midline chest wound infection. A culture sample from the wound revealed Serratia marcescens, however, subsequent all culture tests were negative. Since then, there has been a continued serous discharge from the caudal side of the midline skin incision scar and chest tube removal scar in the chest. Despite the implementation of four open chest treatments, the issue of perigraft seroma persisted, and a diagnosis was ultimately made. During her subsequent admission, negative pressure wound therapy was employed, followed by daily sterilization and film dressing post-discharge. It is understood that a gradual decrease in drainage and complete resolution of the seroma occurred 21 months after surgery, without the removal of the implanted triplex patch.