Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics, treatment experiences and prognostic factors for descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM). Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on the data of 22 patients with DNM diagnosed and treated in Henan Provincial People's Hospital from January 2016 to August 2022, including 16 males and 6 females, aged 29-79 years. After admission, all patients underwent CT scanning of the maxillofacial, cervical, and thoracic regions to confirm their diagnoses. Emergency incision and drainage were performed. The neck incision was treated with continuous vacuum sealing drainage. According to the prognoses, the patients were divided into cure group and death group, and the prognostic factors were analyzed. SPSS 25.0 software was used to analyze the clinical data. Rusults: The main complaints were dysphagia (45.5%, 10/22) and dyspnea (50.0%, 11/22). Odontogenic infection accounted for 45.5% (10/22) and oropharyngeal infection accounted for 54.5% (12/22). There were 16 cases in the cured group and 6 cases in the death group, with a total mortality rate of 27.3%. The mortality rates of DNM typeⅠand typeⅡwere respectively 16.7% and 40%. Compared with the cured group, the death group had higher incidences for diabetes, coronary heart disease and septic shock (all P<0.05). There were statistically significant differences between the cure group and the death group in procalcitonin level (50.43 (137.64) ng/ml vs 2.92 (6.33) ng/ml, M(IQR), Z=3.023, P<0.05) and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ(APACHEⅡ) score (16.10±2.40 vs 6.75±3.19, t=6.524, P<0.05). Conclution: DNM is rare, with high mortality, high incidence of septic shock, and the increased procalcitonin level and APACHE Ⅱ score combined diabetes and coronary heart disease are the poor prognostic factors for DNM. Early incision and drainage combined with continuous vacuum sealing drainage technique is a better way to treat DNM.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Mediastinitis/diagnosis* ; Shock, Septic/complications* ; Retrospective Studies ; Procalcitonin ; Prognosis ; Drainage/adverse effects* ; Necrosis/therapy*

Descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) is a rare form of mediastinal infection. Most cases are associated with esophageal rupture. DNM after a trigger point injection in the upper trapezius has not been described previously. We present a case of DNM after a trigger point injection in the upper trapezius. A 70-year-old man visited the emergency department with chest discomfort and fever after a trigger point injection in the left upper trapezius. Chest computed tomography showed evidence of DNM, and antibiotic therapy was immediately administered intravenously. Because of the risk of sudden death, poor prognosis due to underlying disease, and his age, he declined surgical treatment and died of septic shock. Although trigger point injections are generally considered safe, caution should be used in patients with an underlying disease or in the elderly. Early diagnosis, broad-spectrum antibiotics, and aggressive surgical management are essential to improve the prognosis.
Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Death, Sudden ; Early Diagnosis ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Fever ; Humans ; Mediastinitis* ; Prognosis ; Rupture ; Shock, Septic ; Superficial Back Muscles ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Trigger Points*

Nocardia species are aerobic, gram-positive pathogens found worldwide in soil. Nocardia is considered an opportunistic pathogen, and its infection mostly occurs in immunocompromised patients. We report a case of Nocardia farcinica induced mediastinitis and pneumonia that occurred in a 64-year-old male patient who had no significant medical history except for hypertension. He visited another hospital with a complaint of dyspnea and left chest wall pain. The symptoms arose 7 days ago without any trauma and they worsened. A mediastinal mass was found on computed tomography scan. After being transferred to our hospital for further evaluation, he was diagnosed with mediastinitis and pneumonia. As N. farcinica was found to be the causative organism by 16S rRNA sequencing, proper antibiotic therapy including trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole was initiated immediately. After this, the patient improved and he was discharged. If an infection has a disseminating course, nocardiosis cannot be excluded even in immunocompetent patients. Once the diagnosis is established, prompt antibiotic therapy should be performed based on the severity.
Diagnosis ; Dyspnea ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Immunocompromised Host ; Male ; Mediastinitis* ; Middle Aged ; Nocardia Infections ; Nocardia* ; Pneumonia* ; Soil ; Thoracic Wall

BACKGROUNDFibrosing mediastinitis (FM) is a rare disease. FM is thought to be related to prior granulomatous mediastinal infection, such as histoplasmosis or tuberculosis. The majority of cases have been reported in endemic regions for histoplasmosis. The characteristics of cases of FM in China, where the prevalence of tuberculosis is high, have not been reported. We analyzed the clinical, imaging, and bronchoscopic features of Chinese patients with FM to promote awareness of this disease.

METHODSBetween January 2005 and June 2015, twenty patients were diagnosed with FM in our hospital. Medical records and follow-up data were collected. Imaging and biopsy findings were reviewed by radiologists and pathologists.

RESULTSA total of 20 patients were analyzed (8 males and 12 females). The age ranged from 43 to 88 years with a mean age of 69.5 years. Previous or latent tuberculosis was found in 12 cases. Clinical symptoms included dyspnea (18/20), cough (17/20), expectoration (7/20), and recurrent pneumonia (3/20). Chest computed tomography scans showed a diffuse, homogeneous, soft tissue process throughout the mediastinum and hila with compression of bronchial and pulmonary vessels. Calcification was common (15/20). Pulmonary hypertension was present in 9 of 20 cases. Diffuse black pigmentation in the bronchial mucosa was frequently seen on bronchoscopy (12/13). The patients' response to antituberculosis treatment was inconsistent.

CONCLUSIONSFM in Chinese patients is most likely associated with tuberculosis. Some characteristics of FM are different from cases caused by histoplasmosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; China ; Female ; Histoplasmosis ; complications ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Male ; Mediastinitis ; diagnosis ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Middle Aged ; Sclerosis ; diagnosis ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Tuberculosis ; diagnosis ; physiopathology

Parapharyngeal abscess is relatively common but it can cause life-threatening complications like internal jugular vein thrombophlebitis, septic shock, airway obstruction, and mediastinitis. The diagnosis is dependent on physical examination, endoscopic view, and CT and MR imaging. The treatment is antibiotics but sometimes incision and drainage are necessary. Pseudoaneurysm in deep neck space is very rare and mainly caused by trauma, postoperative state of head and neck surgery and radiation therapy. We herein report a case of massive oropharyngeal bleeding from pseudoaneurysm of the superior thyroid artery associated with parapharyngeal abscess with a review of related literature.
Abscess* ; Airway Obstruction ; Aneurysm, False* ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Arteries* ; Diagnosis ; Drainage ; Head ; Hemorrhage* ; Jugular Veins ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mediastinitis ; Neck ; Physical Examination ; Shock, Septic ; Thrombophlebitis ; Thyroid Gland*

Descending necrotizing mediastinitis that has an abdominal pain as a main clinical manifestation is seldom. Here one case is reported. At the beginning, the patient had pharyngalgia and his swallowing was not smooth. After that, abdominal pain became a main symptom. Pharyngalgia relieved . However CT showed mediastinal infection. Surgical drainage,antibiotics treatment and nutritional support were performed. The patient was cured.
Abdominal Pain ; etiology ; Deglutition ; Drainage ; Humans ; Infection ; Mediastinitis ; complications ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Necrosis

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is an uncommon disorder, and usually affects young men and has a benign course. Common triggers are asthma, the smoking of illicit drugs, the Valsalva maneuver, and respiratory infections. Most cases are usually due to alveolar rupture into the pulmonary interstitium caused by excess pressure. The air dissects to the hilum along the peribronchovascular sheaths and spreads into the mediastinum. However, pneumomediastinum following pharyngeal perforation is very rare, and has only been reported in relation to dental procedures, head and neck surgery, or trauma. We report a case of pneumomediastinum that developed in a 43-year-old patient with pharyngeal perforation after shouting. His course was complicated by mediastinitis and parapneumonic effusions.
Adult ; Humans ; Male ; Mediastinal Emphysema/*diagnosis ; Mediastinitis/*diagnosis ; Pharynx/*injuries

Perforation of the hypopharynx, which can occur after anterior cervical approach, is a very rare type of complication. If diagnosed late, it can lead to very fatal course, such as mediastinitis and hematosepsis. Therefore, a precise and prompt diagnosis is crucial. When conservative treatment alone is not expected to heal the perforated site or is likely to lead to serious complications, surgical treatment becomes necessary. This report demonstrates that surgical intervention performed immediately after an early diagnosis can lead to the successful treatment of a large perforation in the hypopharynx on a 58-year-old male patient.
Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Hypopharynx ; Male ; Mediastinitis

diagnosis and treatment through blood tests (white blood cells, neutrophil, C-reactive protein [CRP]) and computed tomography. Patients over 70 years with systemic disease had the highest percentage. In addition, these patients showed high levels of inflammation index, such as CRP average of 24.8 and needed for a long-term treatment period and a wide range of surgical incision & drainage several times. Systemic diseases, particularly diabetes mellitus and hypertension, accelerate the spread of infection and had a negative effect that delays healing. Eventually, five of the 65 patients showed serious systemic complications.CONCLUSION: When evaluating cervico-facial infected patients due to odontogenic infection, the most important thing is deciding the appropriate diagnosis and degree of disease. Considering the patient's systemic status and age, we need to decide the treatment plan. Especially, those patients over 70 years with systemic disease should be treated with rapid surgical approach, and the use of a wide range of antibiotics and intensive care. If proper treatment principle does not apply, severe life-threatening complications will result, such as necrotizing fascitis, acute airway obstruction, mediastinitis, and others.]]>
Airway Obstruction ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Blood Cells ; C-Reactive Protein ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Drainage ; Early Diagnosis ; Fasciitis, Necrotizing ; Hematologic Tests ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Inflammation ; Critical Care ; Mediastinitis ; Neutrophils ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: Poststernotomy mediastinitis is a rare, but life-threatening complication, thus early diagnosis and proper management is essential for poststernotomy mediastinitis. The main treatment for mediastinitis is aggressive debridement. Several options exist for reconstruction of defects after debridement. The efficacy of immediate debridement and reconstruction with a pectoralis major muscle flap designed for the defect immediately after the diagnosis of poststernotomy mediastinitis is demonstrated. METHODS: Between September 2009 and June 2011, 6 patients were referred to the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery of Ajou University Hospital for poststernotomy mediastinitis. All of the patients underwent extensive debridement and reconstruction with pectoralis major muscle flaps, advanced based on the pedicle of the thoracoacromial artery as soon as possible following diagnosis. A retrospective review of the 6 cases was performed to evaluate infection control, postoperative morbidity, and mortality. RESULTS: All patients had complete wound closures and reduced severity of infections based on the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein levels and a reduction in poststernal fluid collection on computed tomography an average of 6 days postoperatively. A lack of growth of organisms in the wound culture was demonstrated after 3 weeks. There were no major wound morbidities, such as hematomas, but one minor complication required a skin graft caused by skin flap necrosis. No patient expired after definitive surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Immediate debridement and reconstruction using a pectoralis major muscle flap is a safe technique for managing infections associated with poststernotomy mediastinitis, and is associated with minimal morbidity and mortality.
Arteries ; Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein ; Debridement ; Early Diagnosis ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Mediastinitis ; Muscles ; Necrosis ; Pectoralis Muscles ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Surgical Flaps ; Transplants