Mediastinitis – causes, complaints & therapy

Mediastinitis

Mediastinitis is an inflammation of the midfur (area of the sternum and spine), which occurs in acute or chronic form and means a very serious illness for the person affected. Acute mediastinitis can occur due to perforation of the esophagus, inflammation in the area of the head and neck, or as a result of heart surgery. Both forms of mediastinitis are a serious disease that can lead to death if diagnosed or treated is delayed.

What is mediastinitis?

Acute mediastinitis is a mostly bacterial inflammation of the midfur. Causes of mediastinitis can be inflammatory processes in the area of the neck and head. A purulent tooth or a sinus abscess can be a trigger for mediastinitis.

Mediastinitis is a serious and life-threatening disease. A delay until diagnosis or in the treatment of mediastinitis sometimes leads to death, because the mortality rate for mediastinitis is 50 percent. In chronic mediastinitis, a weak immune system or fungi are possible triggers, but chronic mediastinitis can also occur after radiation therapy.

Causes

The causes of the development of mediastinitis, a mid-pleurisy, are manifold. They range from inflammatory processes in the body to infections in the chest, pleura, pericardium or lungs. Infections of the lymph nodes, spine or bone inflammation on the sternum are also possible scattering foci for mediastinitis.

Severe vomiting or ingestion of toxic substances, as well as artificial respiration, favors the development of mediastinitis. Acute mediastinitis is often caused by a hole in the esophagus or an ulcer in the esophagus. Also a surgical intervention by means of cardiac surgery, as postoperative complications sometimes follow in acute mediastinitis. Rather rare is the development of mediastinitis due to perforation in the trachea or bronchi.

Other ways to get mediastinitis are damage to the airways, such as bronchoscopy or injuries caused by a traffic accident. The purulent inflammation spreads rapidly throughout the body, infecting the entire bloodstream, and also other parts of the body.

Symptoms and course

Typical symptoms of mediastinitis:

Possible symptoms of mediastinitis include, in addition to a great shortness of breath or high fever, cough and great pain in the chest. It sometimes also comes to chills, difficulty swallowing as well as shortness of breath or tachycardia. Other symptoms of mediastinitis may also include confusion and swelling of the throat. In chronic mediastinitis, fatigue, headaches and general weakness also occur.

Some people suffer from shortness of breath in mediastinitis. The disease often manifests itself within a few hours and, above all, severely. In some patients, many of the symptoms mentioned only appear in the further course of mediastinitis. In case of complications, mediastinitis can lead to blood poisoning, in which the bacteria enter the bloodstream.

Diagnosis

To diagnose mediastinitis, chest X-ray is arranged. Due to several features, it is possible with the X-ray to confirm any mediastinitis, such as a significant widening of the midfur. This leads to a displacement of other organs, which is clearly visible on the X-ray. Absolute certainty as to whether mediastinitis is present is provided by a computed tomography, which also makes the air present in the mediastinum visible.

If an esophageal performance is suspected, an X-ray proof contrast agent is administered and a gastrographine sip is completed. To determine the infection, a biopsy may be performed – a tissue sample is taken from the area of inflammation with a needle to determine mediastinitis. Another option is an endoscopy of the esophagus or bronchi to diagnose mediastinitis.

Treatment and therapy

Mediastinitis may be treated with antibiotics or surgery. In the case of mediastinitis as a result of a previous operation, the surgical wound is reopened and cleaned, and a drain is often placed. The goal of treatment is to prevent the mediastinitis from spreading to the bones, lungs, heart, and blood vessels, and from forming scars . Chronic mediastinitis in particular often leads to particularly severe scarring.

Longer intensive medical care is required. Chronic mediastinitis is particularly difficult to treat. All treatment methods that lead to relief and thus alleviate the symptoms are recommended. Severe scarring also disrupts the functions of the lungs and heart. In chronic mediastinitis, the vascular muscles sometimes thicken. Men between the ages of 30 and 50 are particularly at risk of developing mediastinitis.

Prevention

↳ Further information: Home remedies for fever

To prevent mediastinitis, it is necessary to allow inflammatory processes to heal. Whether it’s bronchitis , root inflammation, or treating Tuberculosis , healing can prevent mediastinitis. Even after operations, it is urgently necessary to exercise the necessary care and to treat the wounds resulting from the operation in a sterile manner. At the slightest suspicion of mediastinitis, it is advisable to seek advice from a specialist in order to rule out any risks.

Dorothy Farrar

Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.

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