Laryngobronchofibroscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of acute purulent mediastinitis

: Laryngopharynx and tracheobronchial tree were examined in 20 patients with purulent mediastinitis (PM) of different origin. Endoscopically, upper posterior mediastinitis was characterized by swallowing of membraneous wall into the lumen due to pressure outside. The authors recommend diagnostic application of laryngobronchofibroscopy to verify PM following traumas of the respiratory tracts and therapeutic use of the above procedure to treat PM complications; propose to perform nasotracheal intubation using bronchofibroscope as a method of choice in prevention of asphyxia in PM patients provoked by laryngeal edema.