Approaches and Surgical Techniques for Mediastinal Infectious Diseases

Mediastinal infections are divided into four categories according to their etiology: post-sternotomy mediastinitis, descending necrotizing mediastinitis, post esophageal perforation mediastinitis and chronic mediastinitis. Acute mediastinal infections are life-threatening conditions that should be promptly recognized and managed. A delay in the establishment of the diagnosis of mediastinitis will impact morbidity and mortality of patients. Adequate antibiotic treatment, resuscitative measures and surgical management are generally necessary to treat mediastinitis. The exact surgical approach depends on the type of mediastinitis, the clinical features of the patient, the hemodynamic stability and the surgical expertise.