Inflammation of the mediastinum

Acute mediastinitis
Acute mediastinal inflammation is a serious disease with high lethality (approximately 50%).


 * Usually as a result of esophageal perforation (endoscopic procedures, tumors), rarely complications of pneumonia / mediastinal inflammation (or lung abscess, empyema) or as a complication of maxillary inflammation.

Clinical picture

 * Retrosternal fever
 * Esophageal perforation dysphagia + subcutaneous emphysema
 * X-ray: extension of mediastinum, ev. with pleural effusion + mediastinal emphysema.

Therapy

 * ATB iv, mediastinal drainage.

Chronic mediastinitis
Chronic mediastinal inflammation is a granulomatous, fibrous process of mostly unclear etiology. The incidence of this disease is rare.


 * Ormond's disease = idiopathic mediastinal fibrosis + retroperitoneal fibrosis.

Clinical picture
Therapy Surgical removal of mechanical oppression, glucocorticoids.
 * In the beginning without difficulty,
 * Later upper vena cava syndrome, esophageal + tracheobronchial tree stenosis ,
 * X- ray: enlargement of the upper mediastinum, rarely calcification.

Related articles

 * Mediastinum

Source

 * ws:Zánět mediastina