Mediastinitis secondary to invasive infection by group A Streptococcus in Spain.

This study describes 5 mediastinitis cases secondary to invasive group A Streptococcus (iGAS) disease in a recent outbreak in Spain. Among 398 iGAS cases between January 2019-March 2023, 5 (1.3%) were mediastinitis, 4 occurring in December 2022, all secondary to pneumonia or deep neck infection. We outline the clinical outcome with a review of the scarce pediatric literature.  Conclusion: mediastinistis is a rare but severe complication of iGAS and a high level of suspicion is required to diagnose it. What is Known: • Group A Streptococcus can cause invasive and severe infections in children. • Mediastinitis is a severe complication from some bacterial infections, mainly secondary due to deep-neck abscesses. What is New: • Mediastinitis is an unrecognized complication due to an invasive group A Streptococcus (iGAS) infection. • In cases of a deep-neck abscess or complicated pneumonia a high clinical suspicion of iGAS mediastinitis is required, especially when the clinical course is not favorable.

Incidence and healing times of postoperative sternal wound infections: a retrospective observational single-centre study.

Objectives: Analyses of incidence and time required to heal sternal wound infections after heart surgery performed via a median sternotomy between 2020 and 2022. Results: Superficial wound infections (SWI) were five times more common (2.7%) than mediastinitis (0.5%) among 2693 patients. The median time between the operation and diagnosis of SWI was 26 (interquartile range [IQR] 15-33) days vs. 16 (IQR 9-25) days for mediastinitis (p = .12). Gram-negative bacteria caused 44% of the 85 infections. Sternal wound infection correlated to higher body mass index, female sex, smoking, diabetes mellitus, previous myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass grafting, use of internal mammary graft, and re-entry for postoperative bleeding. Eight of 59 patients (13.6%) with sternal wound infections had bilateral mammary grafts, compared to 102 of 1191 patients (8.6%) without wound infections (p = .28). Negative pressure wound therapy was always used to treat mediastinitis and applied in 63% of patients with SWI. Two of 13 patients with mediastinitis (15%) and none of 72 patients with SWI died within 90 days after the operation. The median time until the wound healed was 1.9 (IQR 1.3-3.7) months after SWI vs. 1.7 (IQR 1.3-5.3) months after mediastinitis (p = .63). Six patients (7%) required longer than one year to treat the infection. Conclusions: Postoperative sternal wound infections usually appeared several weeks after surgery and were associated with factors as high body mass index, diabetes mellitus and coronary artery bypass. SWI were more common than mediastinitis and often required negative pressure wound therapy and similar treatment time as mediastinitis.

Mediastinal Cryobiopsy for Pathological Diagnosis of Fibrosing Mediastinitis-Associated Pulmonary Hypertension.

INTRODUCTION: Fibrosing mediastinitis is a benign but fatal disorder characterized by the proliferation of fibrous tissue in the mediastinum, causing encasement of mediastinal organs and extrinsic compression of adjacent bronchovascular structures. FM-associated pulmonary hypertension (FM-PH) is a serious complication of FM, resulting from the external compression of lung vessels. Pathologic assessment is important for etiologic diagnosis and effective treatment of this disease. CASE PRESENTATION: A 59-year-old male patient presented at our hospital and was diagnosed with FM-PH. He declined surgical biopsy that is the reference standard for pathologic assessment, in consideration of the potential risks. Therefore, an endobronchial ultrasound examination was performed, which identified the subcarinal lesion. Under ultrasound guidance, four needle aspirations were carried out, followed by one cryobiopsy. Histopathological examination of transbronchial needle aspiration specimens was inconclusive, while samples from cryobiopsy suggested a diagnosis of idiopathic FM. Further immunophenotyping demonstrated the infiltration of lymphocytes, macrophages, and FOXP3-positive cells in FM-PH. CONCLUSION: Mediastinal cryobiopsy might be a novel and safe option for FM-PH patients who are unwilling or unsuitable for surgical procedure.

Retropharyngeal Abscess Complicated by Mediastinitis in Infants.

INTRODUCTION: Most paediatric upper respiratory infections are virally mediated and result in self-limiting reactive lymphadenopathy. In children younger than 5 years, retropharyngeal lymph nodes may give rise to deep neck space infections in this potential space. Retropharyngeal infections are rare after 5 years because lymph nodes undergo atrophy. METHODS: We present a series of 6 cases of paediatric retropharyngeal abscesses (RPA) complicated by mediastinitis, managed at a tertiary hospital over a 4-year period. RESULTS: All our cases presented with fever, difficulty feeding, and neck swelling. The age range was 11 weeks-11 months, and all tested negative for human immunodeficiency virus. The diagnosis and complications were confirmed on computed tomography (CT) scan. The CT scans consistently revealed RPA with varying degrees of deep neck space and mediastinal extension. All children were promptly taken to theatre for source control. Two were extubated successfully immediately after surgery, and the other 4 were extubated in the paediatric intensive care unit, with the longest duration of intubation being 3 days. Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) was cultured in all 6 cases. CONCLUSION: Management of these cases may be challenging, and young children with RPA require close care and airway monitoring. CT or magnetic resonance imaging is essential to delineate the extent of infection. Surgical drainage should be performed when there is a large abscess, a complication occurs, or an inadequate response in 24-48 h to medical management.

The usefulness of chest drain and epicardial pacing wire culture for diagnosing mediastinitis after open-heart surgery.

PURPOSE: Culture of extracted drains or epicardial pacing wires is an easy and noninvasive method for detecting mediastinitis after open-heart surgery, although studies on its sensitivity and specificity are limited. We, therefore, investigated the usefulness of this approach for diagnosing mediastinitis. METHODS: We retrospectively studied the culture results of drains and epicardial pacing wires extracted from 3308 patients. Prediction models of mediastinitis with and without culture results added to clinical risk factors identified by a logistic regression analysis were compared. RESULTS: The incidence of mediastinitis requiring surgery was 1.89% (n = 64). Staphylococcus was the causative bacterium in 64.0% of cases. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of positive culture results were 50.8%, 91.8%, 10.7%, and 99.0%, respectively. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus had the highest positive predictive value (61.5%). A multivariate analysis identified preoperative hemodialysis (OR 5.40 [2.54-11.5], p < 0.01), long operative duration (p < 0.01), postoperative hemodialysis (OR 2.25 [1.01-4.98], p < 0.05), and positive culture result (OR 10.2 [5.88-17.7], p < 0.01) as independent risk factors. The addition of culture results to pre- and postoperative hemodialysis and a lengthy operative time improved the prediction of mediastinitis. CONCLUSIONS: A culture survey using extracted drains and epicardial pacing wires may provide useful information for diagnosing mediastinitis.

Use of temporary tracheostomy occlusion to reduce the risk of sternal wound infection after sternotomy in congenital cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a method of reducing the risk of sternal wound infection after sternotomy in children with a pre-existing tracheostomy. To report our outcomes using this method from 1 January, 2013 to 31 August, 2023. METHODS: We describe a method for temporarily occluding the tracheal stoma with a removable implant with the primary goal of reducing the risk of sternotomy wound infection by preventing soilage due to tracheostomal secretions. We then performed a retrospective review of all children who underwent temporary tracheostomal occlusion between 1 January, 2013 and 31 August, 2023 at our quaternary care children's hospital. Clinical variables were extracted from the hospital medical records. The rates of antibiotic use and minor and major complications during the period when the stoma plug was in place were recorded. RESULTS: Totally, 19 patients underwent tracheal stoma plugging prior to sternotomy and were included in our analysis. There were two cases of sternal wound infection; one case occurred while the stoma plug was in place, and one developed four days following plug removal. There was one minor complication, with one patient requiring stoma revision via serial dilation at bedside at the time of recannulation. There were no deaths. CONCLUSION: Temporary occlusion of the tracheal stoma with an impermeable plug is a viable option for reducing the risk of sternal wound infection in children with a pre-existing tracheostomy who are undergoing sternotomy.

[Endoscopic vacuum therapy in minimally invasive treatment of esophageal perforations]. / Effektivnost' endoskopicheskoi vakuumnoi terapii v kompleksnom minimal'no invazivnom lechenii perforatsii pishchevoda.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the results of endoscopic vacuum therapy (EVT) and open surgery for esophageal perforations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 60 patients with esophageal perforations between 2010 and 2022. The main group included 29 patients who underwent minimally invasive treatment with EVT, the control group - 31 patients after open surgical interventions. RESULTS: Pneumonia occurred in 21 (72%) and 14 (45%) patients (p=0.04), esophageal stenosis within the perforation zone - in 4 (13.8%) and 1 (3.2%) patient, respectively (p=0.188). Chronic esophageal fistulas were significantly more common in the control group (6 (20.7%) versus 15 (48.4%) patients, p=0.032). The overall duration of treatment (median) among survivors was significantly shorter in the main group: 33 (23; 48) versus 71.5 (59; 93.7) days (p=0.5). However, length of ICU-stay was slightly higher (11 (6; 16) versus 8.5 (5; 12.75) days, p=0.32). Mortality rate was 13.8% (n=4) and 29% (n=9), respectively (p=0.213). Minimally invasive technologies decreased the risk of fatal outcome by 10 times (OR 10.123, 95% CI 1.491-124.97, p=0.035) compared to traditional surgery. CONCLUSION: EVT in complex minimally invasive treatment of patients with mechanical esophageal injuries is an effective method significantly reducing mortality and duration of inpatient treatment compared to traditional surgical approach.

Potential Value of FAPI PET/CT in the Detection and Treatment of Fibrosing Mediastinitis: Preclinical and Pilot Clinical Investigation.

Fibrosing mediastinitis (FM) is a rare proliferative disease within the mediastinum that leads to pulmonary hypertension, which has been regarded as a major cause of death. This study aims to evaluate the potential value of fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI)-PET/CT in the integration of diagnosis and treatment of FM through targeting FAPI in fibrosis rats and provide a theoretical basis for clinical management of FM patients. By performing a 18F-FAPI PET/CT scan, the presence of FAPI-avid in the fibrotic lesion was determined. Through a fibrosis rat model, 18F-FAPI-74 was used for lesion imaging and 177Lu-FAPI-46 was utilized to investigate the potential therapeutic effect on FM in vivo. In addition, biodistribution analysis and radiation dosimetry were carried out. With the 177Lu-FAPI-46 pharmacokinetic data of rats as the input, the estimated dose for female adults was computed, which can provide some useful information for the safe application of radiolabeled FAPI in the detection and treatment of FM in patients. Then, major findings on the use of FAPI PET/CT and SPECT/CT in FM were presented. 18F-FAPI-74 showed a high-level uptake in FM lesions of patients (SUVmax 7.94 ± 0.26), which was also observed in fibrosis rats (SUVmax 2.11 ± 0.23). Consistently, SPECT/CT imaging of fibrosis rats also revealed that 177Lu-FAPI-46-avid was active for up to 60 h in fibrotic lesions. In addition to this robust diagnostic performance, a possible therapeutic impact was evaluated as well. It turned out that no spontaneous healing of lesions was observed in the control group, whereas there was complete healing on day 9, day 11, and day 14 in the 30, 100, and 300 MBq groups, respectively. With a significant difference in the free of event rate in the Kaplan-Meier curve among four groups (P < 0.001), a dose of 300 MBq displayed the best therapeutic effect, and no obvious damage was observed in the kidney. Furthermore, organ-absorbed doses and an effective dose (0.4320 mSv/MBq) of 177Lu-FAPI-46 presumed for patients were assumed to give a preliminary indication of its safe use in clinical practice. In conclusion, 18F-FAPI-46 PET/CT can be a potentially valuable tool for the diagnosis of FM. Of note, 177Lu-FAPI-46 may be a novel and safe radiolabeled reagent for the integration of diagnosis and treatment of FM.

Troponin T and N-Terminal Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide Are Associated with Long-Term All-Cause Mortality in Patients with Post-Sternotomy Mediastinitis following Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: A 15-Year Follow-Up Study.

BACKGROUND: Deep sternal wound/mediastinitis is a rare but feared complication in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) patients and seems to increase the risk of cardiac death, and is also associated with the risk of early internal mammary artery (IMA) graft obstruction. The pathological mechanism explaining the link between mediastinitis and IMA graft obstruction and the impact on mortality is complex, multifactorial, and not fully investigated. OBJECTIVES: Mediastinitis has been associated with increased concentrations of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and troponin T (TnT) at mid-term follow-up, representing persistent low-grade myocardial injury and impaired cardiac function. However, whether mediastinitis is associated with all-cause mortality, or whether the association is driven by these cardiac-specific biomarkers (NT-proBNP and TnT), is not investigated. METHODS: The present study provides the longest and most complete follow-up data in 82 patients undergoing CABG, including 41 with post-sternotomy mediastinitis. RESULTS: The annualized incidence rate of mediastinitis was 0.14%/year and remained stable at 0.14% throughout the study period. During a mean follow-up of 12.7 ± 3.5 years, a total of 42 deaths occurred (27 [65.9%] in mediastinitis and 15 [36.6%] in non-mediastinitis group, p = 0.008). No association was found between IMA or saphenous vein graft obstruction with all-cause mortality. Mediastinitis was associated with a 1.9-fold increased risk of all-cause mortality. However, in the multivariable-adjusted models, age and higher TnT and NT-proBNP levels, but not mediastinitis per se were associated with all-cause mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Mediastinitis after CABG surgery was associated with a poor prognosis during a 15-year follow-up, showing a nearly two-fold higher frequency of all-cause mortality compared with non-mediastinitis group, with the differences in mortality rate occurring primarily after 10 years. The association between mediastinitis and all-cause mortality was modulated by subclinical myocardial damage and stretch, reflected by elevated TnT and NT-proBNP, measured at 2.7-year follow-up, underscoring that these could represent prognostic markers in CABG patients.

Post-cardiac surgery fungal mediastinitis: clinical features, pathogens and outcome.

OBJECTIVES: The occurrence of mediastinitis after cardiac surgery remains a rare and severe complication associated with poor outcomes. Whereas bacterial mediastinitis have been largely described, little is known about their fungal etiologies. We report incidence, characteristics and outcome of post-cardiac surgery fungal mediastinitis. METHODS: Multicenter retrospective study among 10 intensive care units (ICU) in France and Belgium of proven cases of fungal mediastinitis after cardiac surgery (2009-2019). RESULTS: Among 73,688 cardiac surgery procedures, 40 patients developed fungal mediastinitis. Five were supported with left ventricular assist device and five with veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation before initial surgery. Twelve patients received prior heart transplantation. Interval between initial surgery and mediastinitis was 38 [17-61] days. Only half of the patients showed local signs of infection. Septic shock was uncommon at diagnosis (12.5%). Forty-three fungal strains were identified: Candida spp. (34 patients), Trichosporon spp. (5 patients) and Aspergillus spp. (4 patients). Hospital mortality was 58%. Survivors were younger (59 [43-65] vs. 65 [61-73] yo; p = 0.013), had lower body mass index (24 [20-26] vs. 30 [24-32] kg/m2; p = 0.028) and lower Simplified Acute Physiology Score II score at ICU admission (37 [28-40] vs. 54 [34-61]; p = 0.012). CONCLUSION: Fungal mediastinitis is a very rare complication after cardiac surgery, associated with a high mortality rate. This entity should be suspected in patients with a smoldering infectious postoperative course, especially those supported with short- or long-term invasive cardiac support devices, or following heart transplantation.

A case of descending necrotizing mediastinitis complicated by internal jugular thrombosis in a setting of MRSA bacteremia.

BACKGROUND: Acute Descending Necrotizing Mediastinitis is a rare but serious illness that carries a high mortality rate. It is not commonly part of the Emergency Physician's differential diagnoses for the chief complaint of chest pain when there has been no recent instrumentation to the area. Because the disease is so uncommon, there is a relative paucity of reports of the illness. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 58-year-old male with a past medical history of HIV and history of intravenous drug use (IVDU) who presented to the Emergency Department with anterior chest pain for several days in addition to 3 days of fever and chills. The patient's presentation raised concern for intrathoracic infection and the diagnosis of Descending Necrotizing Mediastinitis complicated by internal jugular thrombosis was confirmed by contrast enhanced computed tomography and sonography.

A rare cause of pulmonary hypertension: Idiopathic fibrosing mediastinitis obstructing right pulmonary artery and pulmonary veins.

Fibrosing mediastinitis is caused by a proliferation of fibrous tissue in the mediastinum with encasement of mediastinal viscera and compression of mediastinal bronchovascular structures. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) may occur as a severe complication of the disease. Herein, we report a patient diagnosed with fibrosing mediastinitis and pulmonary hypertension, whose imaging tests showed obstruction of right pulmonary artery and veins.

Descending necrotizing mediastinitis: etiopathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment and long-term consequences-a retrospective follow-up study.

PURPOSE: The primary aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the progression of descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM), evaluate the impact of comorbidities on complications and mortality and to observe long-term consequences of DNM on dysphagia and measurements quality of life. DNM is a serious infectious disease that requires multimodal treatment. Current literature varies in conclusions of risk factors, management and outcome of DNM. In addition, little is known about persisting effects on quality of life. METHODS: Retrospective data analysis of 88 patients with DNM representing the largest single-center study. Recording data of patients and diseases as well as clinical progression from 1997 to 2018. Two questionnaires were sent to the participants to measure quality of life and to detect dysphagia. RESULTS: 88 patients were included. The most frequently found pathogen were Streptococcus spp. (52%). 75% of the patients underwent multiple surgeries, mean count of surgical procedures was 4.3 times. 84% received intensive care treatment. Median length of stay on the intensive care unit was 7 days. 51% had pre-existing comorbidities associated with reduced tissue oxygenation (e.g., diabetes). The most common complication was pleural effusion (45%). During the observation period, the mortality rate was 9%. 12 questionnaires could be evaluated. 67% of the participants were affected by dysphagia at the time of the survey. CONCLUSIONS: Descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) is a severe disease requiring an immediate initiation of multimodal treatment. Although quality of life usually isn´t impaired permanently, dysphagia may often persist in patients after DNM.

Topical skin adhesive PRINEO as the ideal wound closure system in cardiac surgery to limit surgical site infection.

OBJECTIVE: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a major source of morbidity after cardiac surgery, involving prolonged hospitalisation. Among the numerous techniques of skin closure and dressings available, the optimal method remains undetermined. The DERMABOND-PRINEO (PRINEO) (PRINEO, Ethicon, J&J) is the only skin closure system which combines a topical skin adhesive with a mesh. Other surgical disciplines have highlighted remarkable results with PRINEO. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of PRINEO, used as the final layer in sternotomy closure, in the incidence of postoperative SSIs. METHOD: This was a retrospective single-centre cohort study including adult patients who underwent cardiac surgery between January 2015 and December 2018. Patients who had undergone heart transplantation or ventricular assist surgery were excluded. Included patients were divided into two groups depending on the type of post-operative wound care technique used. Group 1 consisted of patients who had their sternotomy closed with a standard dressing and group 2 consisted of patients who were treated with PRINEO. The primary endpoint of our study was the occurrence of SSIs and secondary outcomes were the length of hospitalisation and mortality. RESULTS: A total of 1603 patients were reviewed with the occurrence of 44 SSIs. Both groups were homogeneous in terms of risk factors. The incidence of SSIs was significantly lower in group 2 (PRINEO) than in group 1 (standard dressing) (n=29, 3.8% vs n=15, 1.8%, respectively; p=0.042). However, there was no significant difference in the duration of hospitalisation and mortality. CONCLUSION: In our practice, PRINEO has proven to be a safe wound closure system after sternotomy, with a reduced SSI rate compared to conventional wound care techniques.

Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for post-infarction ventricular septal defect in a low-volume center.

Managing patients with post-ischaemic ventricular septal defects (VSD) and postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock can be extremely challenging in a low-volume cardiac surgery unit. We present a case of a 68-year-old patient who received veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support due to cardiogenic shock after VSD repair. The patient was successfully weaned off support after 86 h. In the postoperative period, mediastinitis occurred, and negative pressure wound therapy was instituted.

Microorganisms isolated in patients with post-cardiac surgery mediastinitis at a cardiology hospital of Mexico City.

INTRODUCTION: Mediastinitis after cardiovascular surgery gives rise to prolonged hospital stay and increased medical care costs, and is associated with high in-hospital mortality. OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical characteristics of patients with post-surgical mediastinitis, including the isolated microorganisms, resistance profile, and in-hospital survival. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of patients with bacteriologically-confirmed post-surgical mediastinitis cared for at a cardiology hospital in Mexico City between January 2017 and March 2019. RESULTS: Fifty-eight cases of mediastinitis were included. Median age was 67 years. Most subjects were males who underwent myocardial revascularization. During in-hospital follow-up, all-cause and mediastinitis-related mortality were 27.6% and 20.7%, respectively. Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Escherichia coli were the most commonly isolated microorganisms. High resistance to methicillin was found in coagulase-negative staphylococci, as well as high expression of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae strains. CONCLUSIONS: High mortality and significant antimicrobial resistance were found in patients with post-cardiac surgery mediastinitis.

INTRODUCCIÓN: La mediastinitis posterior a cirugía cardiovascular deriva en estancia hospitalaria prolongada e incremento de los costos de la atención médica, y se asocia a elevada letalidad hospitalaria. OBJETIVO: Describir las características clínicas de los pacientes con mediastinitis posquirúrgica, incluyendo los microorganismos aislados, perfil de resistencia y supervivencia hospitalaria. MÉTODOS: Estudio transversal de pacientes con mediastinitis posquirúrgica bacteriológicamente confirmada, atendidos en un hospital de cardiología de la Ciudad de México entre enero de 2017 y marzo de 2019. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 58 casos de mediastinitis. La mediana de edad fue de 67 años. La mayoría de los sujetos fueron varones sometidos a revascularización miocárdica. Durante el seguimiento hospitalario, la letalidad por todas las causas y la secundaria a la mediastinitis fueron de 27.6 y 20.7 %, respectivamente. Los microorganismos más frecuentemente aislados fueron Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis y Escherichia coli. Se encontró alta resistencia a meticilina en los estafilococos coagulasa negativos y alta expresión de betalactamasas de espectro extendido en cepas de Escherichia coli y Klebsiella pneumoniae. CONCLUSIONES: En los pacientes con mediastinitis posquirúrgica analizados se observó alta letalidad e importante resistencia antimicrobiana.

[Post-intubation rupture of thoracic trachea in a patient with iatrogenic esophageal perforation and mediastinitis]. / Postintubatsionnyi razryv grudnogo otdela trakhei u bol'noi s perforatsiei pishchevoda pri fibroendoskopii i mediastinitom.

Iatrogenic injuries of the esophagus and trachea are rare. However, these are life-threatening events due to severe complications. The authors report iatrogenic perforation of cervical esophagus with a long false passage in posterior mediastinum in an 83-year-old patient undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for choledocholithiasis. Post-intubation rupture of thoracic trachea was diagnosed early after suturing the defect of esophagus and drainage of mediastinum. Treatment strategy was analyzed and conservative management of tracheal injury was substantiated.

Factors affecting perforation of the esophagus in patients with deep neck infection.

BACKGROUND: Deep neck infection (DNI) is a serious disease that can lead to severe morbidity, including esophageal perforation, and mortality. However, no previous study has explored the risk factors associated with esophageal perforation in patients with DNI. This study investigated these factors. METHODS: Between September 2015 and September 2021, 521 patients with DNI were studied. Relevant clinical variables and deep neck spaces were assessed. RESULTS: In a multivariate analysis, involvement of the retropharyngeal space (OR 5.449, 95% CI 1.603-18.51, p = 0.006) and the presence of mediastinitis (OR 218.8, 95% CI 55.98-855.3, p < 0.001) were independent risk factors associated with esophageal perforation in patients with DNI. There were no differences in pathogens between 32 patients with and 489 patients without esophageal perforation (all p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Involvement of the retropharyngeal space and the presence of mediastinitis were independent risk factors associated with esophageal perforation in patients with DNI. There were no differences in pathogens between the groups with and without esophageal perforation in DNI.

Comparison of fibrosing mediastinitis patients with vs. without markedly increased systolic pulmonary arterial pressure: a single-center retrospective study.

INTRODUCTION: Fibrosing mediastinitis (FM) complicated with pulmonary hypertension (PH) has been considered as an important cause of morbidity and mortality. This study was designed to observe the possible effects of abnormal hemodynamics on patients by conducting a between-group comparison according to the presence of markedly increased systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (SPAP), so as to provide more information for clinical management. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-one patients with clinically diagnosed FM were divided in two groups (SPAP < 50 mmHg group; SPAP ≥ 50 mmHg group) and retrospectively included in the study. Data mainly including demographic factors, echocardiographic data, results of right heart catheter and computed tomography (CT) examination were retrieved from the medical database. Echocardiographic parameters pre- and post- balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) treatment were also collected in 8 patients. RESULTS: Significant changes in cardiac structure, hemodynamics and cardiac function were detected in patients complicated with markedly increased SPAP. Patients in the SPAP ≥ 50 mmHg group had increased right heart diameter, right heart ratio and velocity of tricuspid regurgitation (VTR) (p < 0.05). Deteriorated right heart function was also observed. There was no significant difference in CT findings between the two groups, except that more patients in the SPAP ≥ 50 mmHg group had pleural effusion (p < 0.05). After primary BPA in 8 patients, improvement in the right atrium proportion was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Changes due to significantly increased SPAP in patients with FM include adverse structure and function of the right heart, but differences in CT findings were not significant. Echocardiography has advantages as a noninvasive tool for the evaluation of cardiac structure, function and hemodynamics in patients with FM.

Extensive fibrotic wrapping of the heart: a rare echocardiographic diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Fibrosing mediastinitis (FM) is considered a benign disease, but it can be fatal if progression leads to compression of the hilum of the lungs or invasion of the heart. Echocardiographic reports of this disease are very rare. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a 14-year-old male patient whose non-enhanced chest computed tomography showed unclear soft-tissue dense lesions in the anterior superior mediastinum. Echocardiography showed the heart was extensively wrapped by soft tissue lesions. The histology confirmed FM. CONCLUSIONS: When FM affects the heart, echocardiography can help to characterize the disease and aid in the diagnosis. Echocardiography should be considered an important tool to follow the progression of this disease and guide the therapeutic approach.