We report a case of descending necrotising mediastinitis complicating an oropharyngeal infection in a 25-year-old male. The clinical presentation, the diagnosis and the management of this rare disease and its complications are discussed in this case report with a brief review of the literature.

A best evidence topic in cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether bilateral internal thoracic artery (BITA) coronary bypass increases the risk for mediastinitis. Using the reported search 140 papers were identified. Twenty-four papers represented the best evidence on the subject and the author, journal, date and country of publication, p...

BACKGROUND An attempt to find a prediction method of death risk in patients affected by acute mediastinitis. There is not such a tool described in available literature for that serious disease. METHODS The study comprised 44 consecutive cases of acute mediastinitis. General anamnesis and biochemical data were included. Factor analysis was used to extract the risk characteristic for the patien...

To determine the incidence and morbidity of infections with CMV associated with mediastinitis after conventional cardiac surgery, 115 consecutive adult patients with mediastinitis were evaluated with viral cultures of blood and urine. Shedding of CMV was seen in 29 patients (25 percent) within a mean period of 37 +/- 22 days after cardiopulmonary bypass. Viremia was documented in 79 percent (23...

INTRODUCTION Cervical necrotizing fasciitis is an aggressive infection with high morbidity and mortality. We present a case of cervical necrotizing fasciitis and descending mediastinitis in a healthy young man, caused by unilateral tonsillitis with a successful outcome without aggressive debridement. CASE PRESENTATION A 41-year-old man was admitted to our unit with a diagnosis of severe acute...