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Mediastinitis

Definition:
Mediastinitis involves inflammation of the mediastinum, the cavity between the lungs. The mediastinum contains the heart, the large vessels, the trachea, the esophagus, the thymus, and connective tissues.

Alternative Names:
Chest infection

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Mediastinitis may occur suddenly (acute) or may develop slowly, progressing over time (chronic). The majority of cases occur in patients who have had open chest surgery. This complication occurs in less than 5 percent of all patients who have open chest surgery.

Other patients who have a tear in their esophagus, either from excessive vomiting, trauma, or endoscopy, can also develop mediastinitis. Chronic or slowly developing mediastinitis can arise from tuberculosis, histoplasmosis, other fungal infections, cancer, or sarcoidosis.

Risk factors include recent chest surgery or endoscopy, problems in the upper gastrointestinal tract, and being at higher risk for infection, such as patients with impaired immune systems.



Review Date: 11/9/2002
Reviewed By: Eleftherios Mylonakis, M.D., Division of Infectious Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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