Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Descending necrotizing mediastinitis secondary to retropharyngeal abscess without cervical spread

  • Case Report
  • Published:
General Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Cervical infections can cause neck phlegmonosa and occasionally develop lethal mediastinitis. We report a 52-year-old man with a retropharyngeal abscess causing descending mediastinis without cervical spread. Thoracoscopic drainage without cervicotomy was successful. Deep neck infections causing a descending mediastinitis should be considered in patients even without an abnormal neck appearance.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Freeman RK, Vallieres E, Verrier ED, Karmy-Jones R, Wood DE. Descending necrotizing mediastinitis: an analysis of the effects of serial surgical debridement on patient mortality. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2000;119:260–267.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Papalia E, Rena O, Oliaro A, Cavallo A, Giobbe R, Casadio C, et al. Descending necrotizing mediastinitis: surgical management. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2001;20:739–742.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Min HK, Choi YS, Shim YM, Sohn YI, Kim J. Descending necrotizing mediastinitis: a minimally invasive approach using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Ann Thorac Surg 2004;77:306–310.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Endo S, Murayama F, Hasegawa T, Yamamoto S, Yamaguchi T, Sohara Y, et al. Guideline of surgical management based on diffusion of descending necrotizing mediastinitis. Jpn J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1999;47:14–19.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Endo S, Hasegawa T, Sato Y, Sohara Y. Is video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery an optimal approach for descending necrotizing mediastinitis? Ann Thorac Surg 2005;79:751.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General Surgery, Saitama Medical Center, Jichi Medical University, Saitama, Japan

    Shunsuke Endo, Hiroyoshi Tsubochi, Tomoyuki Nakano & Yasunori Sohara

Authors
  1. Shunsuke Endo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hiroyoshi Tsubochi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Tomoyuki Nakano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yasunori Sohara
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shunsuke Endo.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Endo, S., Tsubochi, H., Nakano, T. et al. Descending necrotizing mediastinitis secondary to retropharyngeal abscess without cervical spread. Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 56, 25–27 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11748-007-0182-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11748-007-0182-y

Key words

Search

Navigation