ACUTE MEDIASTINITIS. RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF 12 CASES

Abstract

Acute mediastinitis is the infection or inflammation of the connective tissue that surrounds the mediastinum. The most frequent causes are those caused by esophageal perforation, cervical abscess and cardiac surgery. Early treatment can reduce mortality. Objective: Present the experience of the Department of Thoracic Surgery of the Hospital of Clinics of San Lorenzo in the management of acute mediastinitis from 2016 to 2018. Material and Methodology: Observational, descriptive, retrospective, cross-sectional study, from 2016 to 2018. Results : 12 pa-tients with acute mediastinitis, predominantly male, with an average of 43 years of age. The causes were perforation by the foreign body and odontogen origin. The most frequent germ was Streptococcus sp. Tho-racotomy and / or cervicotomy were performed in 75% of the cases. The delay to consult was 4.58 days on average and the hospital stay of 19.2 days. Pleural effusion was the only complication found in 33% of patients. The mortality was 25%. Conclusion: In our series. Esophageal perforation was most men, with an average of 43 years of age.