Mediastinitis
Inflammatory process affecting the mediastinum
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An inflammatory process affecting the mediastinum.
Types[edit | edit source]
Mediastinitis can be acute or chronic, depending on the onset.
Risk factors[edit | edit source]
It most often occurs in person who recently had an upper endoscopy or chest surgery.
- A person may have a tear in their esophagus that causes mediastinitis.
- Disease of the esophagus
- Diabetes mellitus
- Problems in the upper gastrointestinal tract
- Recent chest surgery or endoscopy
- Weakened immune system
Causes[edit | edit source]
Causes of the tear include:
- A procedure such as endoscopy
- Forceful or constant vomiting
- Trauma
- A fungal infection called histoplasmosis
- Radiation
- Inflammation of the lymph nodes, lungs, liver, eyes, skin, or other tissues (sarcoidosis)
- Tuberculosis
- Breathing in anthrax
- Cancer
Signs and symptoms[edit | edit source]
- Chest pain
- Chills
- Fever
- General discomfort
- Shortness of breath
Signs of mediastinitis in people who have had recent surgery include:
- Chest wall tenderness
- Wound drainage
- Unstable chest wall
Investigations[edit | edit source]
Tests may include:
- Chest CT scan or MRI scan
- Chest x-ray
- Ultrasound
- MRI of the chest
Treatment[edit | edit source]
You may receive antibiotics if you have an infection.
You may need surgery to remove the area of inflammation if the blood vessels, windpipe, or esophagus is blocked.
Prognosis[edit | edit source]
- How well a person does depends on the cause and severity of the mediastinitis.
- Mediastinitis after chest surgery is very serious. There is a risk of dying from the condition.
Complications[edit | edit source]
Complications include the following:
- Spread of the infection to the bloodstream, blood vessels, bones, heart, or lungs
- Scarring - Scarring can be severe, especially when it is caused by chronic mediastinitis. Scarring can interfere with heart or lung function.
Prevention[edit | edit source]
- To lessen the risk of developing mediastinitis related to chest surgery, surgical wounds should be kept clean and dry after surgery.
- Treating tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, or other conditions associated with mediastinitis may prevent this complication.
Alternative Names: Chest infection
External links[edit | edit source]
| Classification | |
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| External resources |
- Mediastinitis at the US National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
| Mediastinitis Resources | |
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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
