Coexistence of Spontaneous Pneumomediastinum and a Parapharyngeal Space Tumor: A Case Report of a Patient Initially Referred for Descending Necrotizing Mediastinitis.

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is conventionally defined as a disease that does not result from trauma or underlying disease. In recent years, many patients have had some kind of triggering factor, such as sports or a strong cough. Herein, we report a case of mediastinal emphysema with a parapharyngeal tumor at the time of initial examination. Although the patient was referred to our hospital on suspicion of cervical abscess such as descending necrotizing mediastinitis by symptoms, it seemed that the cause was a spontaneous pneumomediastinum associated with a parapharyngeal tumor coincidentally. The pneumomediastinum resolved day by day, and the parapharyngeal tumor was extracted without recurrence, which turned out to be a pleomorphic adenoma. As far as we are concerned, there have been no reports of spontaneous pneumomediastinum associated with a parapharyngeal space tumor.

Wide exposure VS. stab surgical incisions in necrotizing fasciitis of the head and neck: a retrospective analysis of 22 cases.

PURPOSE: Necrotizing fasciitis of the head and neck is a rare, rapidly progressing bacterial infection with high mortality. Traditional surgical management involves wide exposure incisions, but minimally invasive stab incisions have emerged as a potential alternative. This study aimed to compare outcomes between wide exposure and stab surgical incisions in the management of head and neck necrotizing fasciitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 22 patients treated for necrotizing fasciitis of the head and neck between January 2006 and January 2023. Patients were divided into two groups based on the surgical approach: wide exposure incisions (N = 15) and stab surgical incisions (N = 7). Data on mortality, hospital stay, hypertrophic scarring, neck contractures, and tracheostomy tube dependence were collected. RESULTS: The overall mortality rate was 9.1%, with 6.7% in the wide exposure group and 14.3% in the stab surgical incision group (p > 0.05). Hypertrophic scarring occurred in 59.1% of patients, all of whom underwent wide exposure incisions. Neck contractures were observed in 9.1% of cases, also in the wide exposure group. Tracheostomy was performed in 63.6% of patients, with successful decannulation achieved in 91.7%. The median hospital stay was longer in the stab surgical incision group (p < 0.05), partly due to the need for revision surgeries. CONCLUSION: Wide exposure incisions remain the standard treatment for necrotizing fasciitis of the head and neck due to their effectiveness in managing extensive tissue necrosis. However, stab surgical incisions offer the advantage of reduced morbidity and functional impairment. These benefits are offset by a slightly higher mortality rate and the potential need for additional interventions. Stab incisions may be a viable option in carefully selected patients, particularly those without extensive comorbidities or advanced disease.

Descending necrotizing mediastinitis caused by a minor whiplash injury.

We describe a case of descending necrotizing mediastinitis from a very unusual origin, caused by cervical oesophageal perforation by osteophytes after an apparently minor whiplash injury. Diagnosis was delayed by atypical and predominantly neurological clinical presentation. Despite late presentation, minimally invasive access surgical debridement of mediastinum and cervical injury site lead to full recovery.

Multidisciplinary Management of Descending Necrotizing Mediastinitis: Is Thoracoscopic Treatment Feasible?

Background: Descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) is a life-threatening condition, generally caused by downward dissemination of oropharyngeal infections through cervical fascial planes. Mediastinal drainage is conventionally achieved by thoracotomy, but a Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) approach is gaining interest due to the reduced invasiveness of procedure. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of VATS treatment in patients with DNM. Methods: We conducted a retrospective multicenter study including patients with descending mediastinitis that underwent mediastinal drainage through VATS (VATS group) or thoracotomy (thoracotomy group), both in association with cervical drainage. Patients with mediastinitis secondary to cardiac, pulmonary, or esophageal surgery were excluded. The intergroup differences regarding surgical outcome and postoperative morbidity and mortality were compared. Results: A total of 21 patients were treated for descending mediastinitis during the study period. Cervicotomy and thoracotomy were performed in 15 patients (71%), while cervicotomy and VATS were performed in 6 patients (29%). There were no significant differences in surgical outcome, postoperative morbidity, and mortality between groups. VATS treatment was not associated with a higher complication rate. Patients in the VATS group had a shorter operative time (p = 0.016) and shorter ICU stay (p = 0.026). Conclusions: VATS treatment of DNM is safe and effective. The comparison with thoracotomy showed no significant differences in postoperative morbidity and mortality. The VATS approach is associated with a shorter operative time and ICU stay than thoracotomy.

Descending necrotizing mediastinitis: key points to reduce the high associated mortality in a consecutive case series.

Background: Descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) is an acute life-threatening infection that originates in the oropharyngeal region. It is an uncommon disease with a mortality rate of about 20-40%. This high mortality is mainly attributed to delays in diagnosis and treatment and poor drainage of the mediastinum. We highlight key points that may help reduce mortality. Case Description: We analyze a retrospective case series of seven patients diagnosed with DNM between March 2019 and July 2022 at Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau. The primary oropharyngeal infection was peritonsillar abscess in three cases and odontogenic abscess in four. All patients showed symptoms of severe cervical infection and symptoms suggestive of mediastinitis. A cervicothoracic computed tomography (CT) scan confirmed the presence of cervical and mediastinal collections and emphysema in all cases. All patients were simultaneously evaluated by the otorhinolaryngology and thoracic surgery teams. Broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy was instituted pending culture. All the patients underwent urgent surgery, consisting of cervicotomy to control the cervical focus and unilateral or bilateral video-assisted thoracoscopic debridement and drain of the pleural cavities and mediastinum. Regarding the outcomes, no patients died, one patient (14.2%) underwent transcervical mediastino-thoracoscopy drainage only. In six patients (85.8%) we performed a combined transcervical and transthoracic approach. Reoperation was required in 3 (43%) cases. The parameter that indicated a poor clinical evolution in these patients was an increase in C-reactive protein and the infection extension on the cervicothoracic CT scan. The follow-up was 30 days from last surgery; there were no losses. Conclusions: Based on our experience, the key points that can help reduce the high mortality associated with DNM are a rapid multidisciplinary assessment and a combined surgical procedure, considering the minimally invasive approach as the first option to drain the pleural cavities and mediastinum.

Efficacy of Continuous Saline Irrigation Therapy for Descending Necrotizing Mediastinitis.

Objectives Descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) is a poor prognosis disease. This study aims to examine the patient background and treatment of DNM and to identify more effective treatments for DNM. Methods The patient background and treatment of 11 patients who underwent surgery for DNM between November 2010 and June 2021 were studied. The patients were divided into six patients who underwent continuous saline irrigation (group I) and five patients who did not (group N). The differences in the drainage duration and length of hospital stay between the two groups were retrospectively investigated. Results Eleven patients were treated for DNM: six male and five female, with a median age of 61 years (35-79). Comorbidities included diabetes mellitus in three cases; one patient was administered steroids. The pathways of occurrence were anterior tracheal gap/vascular visceral gap/posterior visceral gap in group I (2/1/2) and group N (0/2/4). Progression was I/IIA/IIB according to Endo's classification in group I (1/1/4) and group N (3/1/1). The mean duration of irrigation was 9.0 ± 3.7 days, and the drainage duration in group I was 17.5 ± 8.2 days, which was significantly shorter than 31 ± 13.6 days in group N ( p < 0.048). The hospital stays in group I was 29.3 ± 8.4 days, which was significantly shorter than that in group N (68 ± 27.1 days; p < 0.015). Conclusions Irrigation therapy significantly shortened the drainage duration and hospital stay. Irrigation is a useful treatment for DNM.

Descending Necrotizing Mediastinitis by Streptococcus anginosus and Prevotella buccae in an Intensive Care Unit Patient: A Case Report.

Necrotizing infections of deep neck spaces are a group of life-threatening infectious diseases acquired through trauma or as a descending infection from an odontogenic source. The isolation of pathogens is unusual because of the anaerobic nature of the infection; however, one way to achieve this is through the use of automated microbiological methods like matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization and time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) following standard microbiology protocols for analyzing samples from potential anaerobic infections. We present a case of a patient without risk factors for descending necrotizing mediastinitis with isolation of Streptococcus anginosus and Prevotella​​​​​​​ buccae managed at the intensive care unit with a multidisciplinary team. We present our approach and how we successfully treat this complicated infection.

The efficacy of thoracoscopic surgery for descending necrotizing mediastinitis.

OBJECTIVES: Thoracotomy is a reliable approach for descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM), and the use of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS), a minimally invasive procedure, has been increasing. However, which approach is more effective for DNM treatment is controversial. METHODS: We analysed patients who underwent mediastinal drainage via VATS or thoracotomy, using a database with DNM from 2012 to 2016 in Japan, which was constructed by the Japanese Association for Chest Surgery and the Japan Broncho-esophagological Society. The primary outcome was 90-day mortality, and the adjusted risk difference between the VATS and thoracotomy groups using a regression model, which incorporated the propensity score, was estimated. RESULTS: VATS was performed on 83 patients and thoracotomy on 58 patients. Patients with a poor performance status commonly underwent VATS. Meanwhile, patients with infection extending to both the anterior and posterior lower mediastinum frequently underwent thoracotomy. Although the postoperative 90-day mortality was different between the VATS and thoracotomy groups (4.8% vs 8.6%), the adjusted risk difference was almost the same, -0.0077 with 95% confidence interval of -0.0959 to 0.0805 (P = 0.8649). Moreover, we could not find any clinical and statistical differences between the 2 groups in terms of postoperative 30-day and 1-year mortality. Although patients who underwent VATS had higher postoperative complication (53.0% vs 24.1%) and reoperation (37.9% vs 15.5%) rates than those who underwent thoracotomy, the complications were not serious and most could be treated with reoperation and intensive care. CONCLUSIONS: The outcome of DNM treatment does not depend on thoracotomy or VATS.

Surgical Experience with Descending Necrotizing Mediastinitis: A Retrospective Analysis at a Single Center.

Background: We analyzed our experience with descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) treatment and investigated the efficacy of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for mediastinal drainage. Methods: This retrospective analysis included patients who underwent surgical drainage for DNM at our hospital from 2005 to 2020. We analyzed patients' baseline characteristics, surgical data, and perioperative outcomes and compared them according to the mediastinal drainage approach among patients with type II DNM. Results: Twenty-five patients (male-to-female ratio, 18:7) with a mean age of 54.0±12.9 years were enrolled in this study. The most common infection sources were pharyngeal infections (60%). Most patients had significantly increased white blood cell counts, elevated C-reactive protein levels, and decreased albumin levels on admission. The most common DNM type was type IIB (n=16, 64%), while 5 and 4 patients had types I and IIA, respectively. For mediastinal drainage, the transcervical approach was used in 15 patients and the transthoracic approach (VATS) in 10 patients. The mean length of hospital stay was 26.5±23.8 days, and the postoperative morbidity and in-hospital mortality rates were 24% and 12%, respectively. No statistically significant differences were found among patients with type II DNM between the transcervical and VATS groups. However, the VATS group showed shorter mean antibiotic therapy duration, drainage duration, and hospital stay length than the transcervical group. Conclusion: DNM manifested as severe infection requiring long-term inpatient treatment, with a mortality rate of 12%. Thus, active treatment with a multidisciplinary approach is crucial, and mediastinal drainage using VATS is considered relatively safe and effective.

Surgical therapy and outcome of descending necrotizing mediastinitis in Chinese: a single-center series.

Background: Descending Necrotizing Mediastinitis (DNM) is an acute and often fatal infection that affects the neck and mediastinum. DNM treatment consists of broad-spectrum antibiotics, early diagnosis, and surgical debridement with multidisciplinary cooperation. However, owing to the rarity and complexity of this disease, the mortality rate is high. This retrospective study analyzed a single-center experience of managing DNM in Chinese patients over the last 10 years. Methods: A single-center, retrospective, observational, and descriptive study was conducted on 31 patients with DNM at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 2012 to 2022. Case report forms were used to collect data which were then analyzed with a focus on surgical management and outcomes. Results: This study examined the outcomes of 31 patients diagnosed with DNM at our hospital. The most common comorbidities on admission were hypertension (48%) and diabetes mellitus (42%). The degree of diffusion of DNM according to Endo's classification was classified as follows: type I in 7 patients (22.6%), type IIA in 5 (16.1%), and type IIB in 19 patients (61.3%). Among these patients, 13 (41.9%) were found to have a single microbial infection, while 16 (51.6%) were found to have polymicrobial infections. In all cases, neck drainage was performed via cervicotomy, with multiple drains (64.5%) and vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) (35.5%). Mediastinal drainage was performed via a cervical mediastinotomy (51.6%), video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) (41.9%), or thoracotomy (6.5%). The 30-day mortality rate was 25.8% and 24.0 days of the average length of hospital stay. Conclusion: Early accurate diagnosis and timely intervention have been shown to be correlated with a positive prognosis. Cervicothoracic CT (computed tomography) is essential for the diagnosis, staging, and evaluation of the optimal surgical treatment. Cervicotomy and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery with percutaneous drainage is effective, even in advanced cases. Additionally, the application of VSD in cervical incision did not improve prognosis but may shorten the length of ICU (intensive care unit) and hospital stays.

Risk Factors of Descending Necrotizing Mediastinitis in Deep Neck Abscesses.

Background and Objectives: Cervical space infection could also extend to the mediastinum due to the anatomical vicinity. The mortality rate of descending necrotizing mediastinitis is 85% if untreated. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for the progression of deep neck abscesses to descending necrotizing mediastinitis. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients undergoing surgical treatment of deep neck abscesses from August 2017 to July 2022. Computed tomography (CT) was performed in all patients. Before surgery, lab data including hemoglobulin (Hb), white blood cell count, neutrophil percentage, C-reactive protein (CRP) level, and blood glucose were recorded. Patients' characteristics including gender, age, etiology, and presenting symptoms were collected. Hospitalization duration and bacterial cultures from the wound were also analyzed. Results: The C-reactive protein (CRP) level was higher in patients with a mediastinal abscess than in patients without a mediastinal abscess (340.9 ± 33.0 mg/L vs. 190.1 ± 72.7 mg/L) (p = 0.000). The submandibular space was more commonly affected in patients without a mediastinal abscess (p = 0.048). The retropharyngeal (p = 0.003) and anterior visceral (p = 0.006) spaces were more commonly affected in patients with a mediastinal abscess. Conclusions: Descending necrtotizing mediastinitis results in mortality and longer hospitalization times. Early detection of a mediastinal abscess on CT is crucial for treatment. Excluding abscesses of the anterior superior mediastinum for which transcervical drainage is sufficient, other mediastinal abscesses require multimodal treatment including ENT and thoracic surgery to achieve a good outcome.

Risk Factors Associated with Post-Operative Complications in Multidisciplinary Treatment of Descending Necrotizing Mediastinitis.

BACKGROUND: Descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) is a severe, life-threatening complication of oropharyngeal infections with cervical necrotizing fasciitis. In this study, we aimed to identify any possible factors that correlate with favorable outcomes. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed our series of 18 patients who underwent surgical treatment for DNM from a cervical abscess. Gender, age, symptoms, etiopathogenesis, comorbidities, time to surgery from diagnosis, degree of diffusion, identified microorganisms, surgical procedure, days in the intensive care unit, need for tracheostomy, complications, and surgical outcomes were reviewed. RESULTS: The main type of surgery was thoracotomy + cervicotomy in eight cases (50.0%), followed by cervicotomy +VATS in four (22.2%). Seven patients (38.9%) had two or more surgeries; a bilateral operation was necessary for four patients. Evaluating the risk factors associated with post-operative complications, age ≥ 60 years (p:0.031), cervicotomy alone as surgical approach (p = 0.040), and the bilateral approach (p = 0.048) resulted in significance in terms of the univariate analysis; age ≥ 60 years (p = 0.04) and cervical approach (p = 0.05) maintained their significance in terms of the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The low mortality of our series emphasizes the importance of an extensive and immediate surgical drainage of both the neck and the mediastinum. Mediastinal drainage from cervicotomy seems to be a risk factor for post-operative complications. Minimally invasive surgery on the chest cavity, such as with Uniportal-VATS, could be a good approach above all in elderly patients and all those cases where bilateral access is required.

Management of descending necrotizing mediastinitis with severe thoracic empyema using minimally invasive video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: a case report.

Background: Descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) is a rare but serious complication of odontogenic or pharyngeal infection spreading into the mediastinum. Very few childhood cases of DNM have been described. Case Description: We report a case of DNM complicated with severe thoracic empyema in a previously healthy 6-year-old girl who was successfully treated using minimally invasive video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). The patient presented with odynophagia and dental pain, followed by rapid clinical deterioration including high fever, tachypnea, and left chest pain. As chest computed tomography (CT) revealed features of DNM, she was transferred from the local hospital to our hospital for intensive care. Empirical treatment was started with meropenem and linezolid. However, her tachypnea and dyspnea progressed rapidly. An ultrasound-guided left-sided thoracentesis drained 80 mL of brown sticky pus and the pus culture yielded Streptococcus constellatus. A contrast-enhanced CT scan demonstrated large mediastinal abscess and severe thoracic empyema. We performed debridement and drainage of the mediastinum and pleura using VATS. She recovered and was discharged on hospital day 18. Conclusions: Early diagnosis by cervicothoracic CT and multidisciplinary approaches including intensive care, broad-spectrum antibiotics, and aggressive surgical intervention are crucial to reducing morbidity and mortality. VATS is a minimally invasive and appropriate treatment strategy for children with DNM, especially complicated with thoracic empyema.

Mediastinal tuberculosis following descending necrotizing mediastinitis: A case report.

Tuberculosis is a disease that causes latent infection and is sometimes activated by a variety of factors. Descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) is a serious disease caused by spreading oropharyngeal infection. We present a case of mediastinal tuberculosis following mediastinal dissection and antibiotic therapy for DNM. A 62-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with an increasing mass in the right mediastinum during outpatient follow-up after surgical drainage and antibiotic treatment for idiopathic cervical abscess and left DNM caused by oral bacteria. The patient underwent right mediastinal abscess dissection 4 months after the last surgery. As a result of culture tests, no general bacteria but Mycobacterium tuberculosis was detected. Anti-tuberculosis treatment was continued for 9 months, and the patient has progressed without any recurrence of infection. The possibility of relapse of tuberculosis should always be considered in patients with unexplained masses.

Evaluation of clinical parameters affecting the prognosis in surgically treated patients with descending necrotizing mediastinitis - A retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES: Descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) is the most serious complication of maxillofacial infections followed with high mortality. The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate possible prognostic clinical factors for survival of patients with DNM based on single center clinical data. METHODS: The study enrolled patients admitted to the Emergency Center of Vojvodina with the diagnosis of DNM either as the primary diagnosis or with discharged diagnosis after surgical treatment during 11-years period. The data were obtained from patient medical records. RESULTS: After final analysis total of 28 charts were randomized for statystical analysis, 19 charts in survivors and 9 in non-survivors group. The most common cause of infection in survivors group was odontogenic and in non-survivors group pharyngeal infection. On multivariate regression analysis of collected data results of control computed tomography, preoperative Endo status, early postoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonine (PCT) values and postoperative complications were statistically significant predictors for mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Based on results of this study, extent of infection in the mediastinum based on Endo's criteria, progression of infection on control cervicothoracic CT, increase of CRP and PCT values in immediate postoperative period and presence of postoperative complications and septic shock provide poor prognosis for patients with DNM.

Acute Mediastinitis - Outcomes and Prognostic Factors of Surgical Therapy (A Single-Center Experience).

PURPOSE: The aims of this work were the retrospective analysis of a cohort of patients with acute mediastinitis treated at the authors' worksite over a 15-year period and the identification of factors that significantly affect the outcomes of the therapy. METHODS: During the period 2006-2020, 80 patients with acute mediastinitis were treated. Within the cohort, the following were observed: the causes and the type of acute mediastinitis, length of anamnesis, comorbidities, diagnostic methods, time from the diagnosis to surgery, types and number of surgical procedures, results of microbiological tests, complications, and outcomes of the treatment. RESULTS: The most common type of acute mediastinitis was descending mediastinitis (48.75%). A total of 116 surgical procedures were performed. Ten patients in the cohort died (12.5%). Patients older than 60 years were at a 6.8 times higher risk of death. Patients with more than two comorbidities were at a 14.3 times higher risk of death. The presence of yeasts in the culture material increased the risk of death by 4.4 times. CONCLUSION: Early diagnosis, removal of the cause of mediastinitis, sufficient mediastinal debridement, and multiple drainage thereof with the possibility of continual postoperative lavage are essential for the successful treatment of acute mediastinitis.

Management of Descending Necrotizing Mediastinitis, a Severe Complication of Deep Neck Infection, Based on Multidisciplinary Approaches and Departmental Co-Ordination.

OBJECTIVES: Descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) developing after deep neck infection (DNI) is a potentially lethal disease of the mediastinum with a mortality rate as high as 40% prior to the 1990s. No standard treatment protocol is available. Here, we present the outcomes of our multidisciplinary approaches for treating DNM originating from a DNI. METHODS: Between June 2016 and July 2021, there were 390 patients with DNIs admitting to our tertiary hospital. A total 21 patients with DNIs complicated with DNM were enrolled. The multidisciplinary approaches included establishment of airway security, appropriate surgery and antibiotics, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and intensive care unit management. The clinical variables were analyzed. RESULTS: Two patients died and 19 survived (mortality 9.5%). The patients who died had a higher mean C-reactive protein (CRP) level than did those who survived (420.0 ± 110.3 vs 221.8 ± 100.6 mg/L) (P = .038). The most common pathogens were Streptococcus constellatus and Streptococcus anginosus. From 2001 to 2021, the average mortality rate of studies enrolling more than 10 patients was 16.1%. CONCLUSION: Multidisciplinary approaches, early comprehensive medical treatment, and co-ordination among departments significantly reduce mortality. Patients with severe inflammation and high CRP levels require intensive and aggressive interventions.

Acute mediastinitis, mediastinal granuloma, and chronic fibrosing mediastinitis: A review.

Acute mediastinitis is a rare infection that carries high morbidity and mortality. They are complications seen most often with deep sternal wound infections from surgeries with median sternotomies, oropharyngeal and odontogenic infections and esophageal perforations. These conditions should be promptly recognized and treated. Mediastinal granulomas are focal, mass-like lesions commonly resulting from prior granulomatous infections. They are regarded as benign, self-resolving lesions however can cause complications by compression of adjacent mediastinal structures. Chronic fibrosing mediastinitis is a rare, diffuse fibroinflammatory process most often seen with granulomatous infections and carries a worse prognosis than mediastinal granulomas especially when adjacent mediastinal structures are compromised. In this review, we discuss the epidemiology, etiology, clinical presentation, treatment and prognosis of acute mediastinitis, mediastinal granulomas, and chronic fibrosing mediastinitis.

Streptococcus anginosus group infection as a predictor for the progression of descending necrotizing mediastinitis.

BACKGROUND: The prognosis of descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM), especially that extending inferiorly to the carina, remains poor. The identification of additional prognostic factors may improve the prognosis. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed six patients who underwent thoracic surgery for DNM extending to the anterior and posterior mediastinum inferior to the carina (Endo classification type IIB) from 2014 to 2020. We reviewed their characteristics, clinical course, causative bacteria, and treatment to investigate their prognostic factors. RESULTS: The median patient age was 62 years. Five patients were men and one patient was a woman. The causative disease in three of the patients was pharyngolaryngeal, and for the others, it was an odontogenic infection. Five patients had sepsis and four had disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) at surgery. Four patients had polymicrobial infections of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, all of whom showed gas bubbles on a chest computed tomography scan and detection of Streptococcus anginosus group (SAG). All patients underwent cervicotomy, tracheostomy, and mediastinal drainage and debridement via a transthoracic approach. Three patients underwent additional surgery or drainage because an additional abscess appeared postoperatively. The median duration of hospitalization was 58 days and the mixed infections, including SAG, were all detected in the three cases of long-term hospitalization. No disease-associated death was observed during the follow-up period of 18 months. CONCLUSIONS: Mixed infection, including SAG, may be a predictor for DNM aggravation and spread. Gas bubbles on a chest computed tomography scan suggest polymicrobial aerobic and anaerobic infections including SAG, which require broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy and aggressive drainage and surgery.

Identification of risk factors for mortality and delayed oral dietary intake in patients with open drainage due to deep neck infections: Nationwide study using a Japanese inpatient database.

BACKGROUNDS: Data on risk factors for deep neck infection including descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) have been limited. Using a nationwide database, the aim was identifying the factors related to patient death and delay in recovering oral intake. METHODS: Data of 4949 patients were extracted from a Japanese inpatient database between 2012 and 2017. The main outcome was survival at discharge. In a subgroup analysis of the 4949 patients with survival, the second outcome was delay in the interval between admission and full recovery of oral intake. RESULTS: Only a few factors (advanced-age, ventilation) were associated with both mortality and delayed oral dietary intake by logistic regression analyses. Conversely, several factors including DNM (adjusted-odds ratio [OR] 1.41) and repeated surgery (adjusted-OR 1.70) were significantly related only to delayed oral dietary intake. CONCLUSIONS: Although DNM was not necessarily related to mortality, patients with DNM should receive careful attention to avoid delayed oral dietary intake.