Mediastinal Abscess

Mediastinal abscess is infection of the mediastinum (post-endoscopy/surgery/esophageal rupture/descending necrotizing mediastinitis), presenting with fever, chest pain, dyspnea, sepsis, and mediastinal widening on imaging. Treatment: secure airway; IV broad-spectrum antibiotics (cover oral anaerobes/staph/strep/GNR); urgent drainage (transcervical/thoracoscopic/endoscopic); treat esophageal rupture/stent/repair; cultures; monitor for great-vessel erosion/airway obstruction; ICU; cardiothoracic surgery/ENT/GI.

Common Symptoms

Fever/chest pain/dyspnea; sepsis; mediastinal widening; post-procedural/traumatic

Causes and Pathogenesis

Esophageal rupture/post-surgery/descending infection causes mediastinal infection and abscess.

Treatment

Airway; IV antibiotics; urgent drainage; treat esophageal rupture; ICU; monitor vascular/airway

Preventive Measures

Careful endoscopy/surgery; treat esophageal disease promptly.

Department to Visit

It is recommended to visit the Cardiothoracic-surgery/GI-Emergency/ICU department; an appointment can be booked on this platform before the visit.

Warm reminder: The above information is for health science reference only and cannot replace professional medical diagnosis. If you have related symptoms, please seek medical attention at a regular hospital promptly.