mediastinitis

mediastinitis /me·di·as·ti·ni·tis/ (-as″tĭ-ni´tis) inflammation of the mediastinum.

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fibrosing mediastinitis , fibrous mediastinitis mediastinal fibrosis.

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me·di·as·ti·ni·tis (md-st-nts)

n.

Inflammation of the cellular tissue of the mediastinum.

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mediastinitis,

an inflammation of the mediastinum.

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mediastinitis

(mē´dēas´tnī´tis),
n an inflammation of the mediastinum.

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mediastinitis

inflammation of the mediastinum.

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mediastinitis

Surgery Inflammation of the mediastinum. See Mediastinoscopy, Mediastinum.

Mediastinitis

Acute mediastinitis A fulminant infectious process with a high M&M, in which organisms rapidly spread through areolar planes of mediastinum Etiology Traumatic esophageal perforation, foreign bodies, suture line leakage, post-emetic rupture Clinical Chest pain, dysphagia, respiratory distress, cervical-upper thoracic subcutaneous crepitus CXR May be normal early, followed by evidence of mediastinal and subcutaneous air Management Aggressive and early with antibiotics, fluid resuscitation, chest tubes for pneumothorax or effusions, thoracotomy and surgical repair

Chronic mediastinitis A relatively indolent process characterized by chronic–'round cell' inflammation and fibrosis Etiology Most often the result of a granulomatous process, eg TB, histoplasmosis, but may be idiopathic, as in sclerosing mediastinitis Clinical Often silent if no esophageal obstruction occurs CXR May be normal or mediastinum widened Management Thoracotomy to confirm diagnosis or relieve obstruction