Favorable results of early diagnosis by cervicothoracic computed tomography scans for descending necrotizing mediastinitis

We studied results of early diagnosis by cervicothoracic computed tomography and early aggressive surgery for descending necrotizing mediastinitis. Between 1990 and 1999, 5 patients with descending necrotizing mediastinitis were surgically treated in our institute. Computed tomography scans confirme...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:General thoracic and cardiovascular surgery 2001-04, Vol.49 (4), p.220-223
Main Authors: Takanami, I, Takeuchi, K
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Drainage
Female
Humans
Male
Mediastinitis - diagnostic imaging
Mediastinitis - pathology
Mediastinitis - surgery
Mediastinum - pathology
Middle Aged
Neck - diagnostic imaging
Necrosis
Pharyngeal Diseases - pathology
Retrospective Studies
Thoracoscopy
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Treatment Outcome
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:We studied results of early diagnosis by cervicothoracic computed tomography and early aggressive surgery for descending necrotizing mediastinitis. Between 1990 and 1999, 5 patients with descending necrotizing mediastinitis were surgically treated in our institute. Computed tomography scans confirmed mediastinitis in all cases, even though chest x-ray films demonstrated a widening mediastial shadow in only 2. Soon after surgical drainage of the deep neck infection and diagnosis of descending necrotizing mediastinitis, all patients underwent surgical mediastinal drainage. Mediastinitis was drained by thoracotomy in 1, managed thoracoscopically in 1 and cervicomediastinally drained in 3. The outcome was favorable in all patients. Early diagnosis by cervicothoracic computed tomography and early aggressive surgery for descending necrotizing mediastinitis are essential to favorable outcome.
ISSN:1344-4964
1863-6705
1863-2092
1863-6713
DOI:10.1007/bf02913519