Mediastinitis overview
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Mediastinitis is inflammation or infection of the tissues in the mid-chest, or mediastinum. This disorder is rare, but is most often observed among patients following chest surgery or endoscopy. Mediastinitis may occur at any age. It may be classified according to cause into 2 groups: acute or chronic (fibrosing). Life threatening causes of mediastinitis include esophageal perforation. Common causes of mediastinitis trauma, beta-hemolytic streptococcus, forceful or constant vomiting and median sternotomy.
Acute mediastinitis is usually bacterial and due to rupture of organs in the mediastinum. As the infection can progress rapidly, this is considered a serious condition. Chronic sclerosing (or fibrosing) mediastinitis, while potentially serious, is caused by a long-standing inflammation of the mediastinum, leading to growth of acellular collagen and fibrous tissue within the chest and around the central vessels and airways. It has a different cause, treatment, and prognosis than acute infectious mediastinitis.