Acute mediastinitis

Acute mediastinitis is a serious disease with a high lethality (approximately 50%).
 * Usually a consequence of perforation of the oesophagus (endoscopic procedures, tumours), rarely a complication of pneumonia/mediastinitis (possibly lung abscess, empyema) or even as a complication of coemphysitis.

Clinical picture

 * Fever with retrosternal pain,
 * with esophageal perforation dysphagia + subcutaneous emphysema,
 * X-ray: enlargement of the mediastinum, ev. with pleural effusion + mediastinal emphysema.

Therapy

 * ATB i.v., mediastinal drainage.

Related articles

 * Mediastinum
 * Chronic mediastinitis