RT Book, Section
A1 Doherty, Gerard M.
SR Print(0)
ID 58094488
T1 Mediastinitis
T2 Quick Answers Surgery
YR 2010
FD 2010
PB The McGraw-Hill Companies
PP New York, NY
SN 
LK accesssurgery.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=58094488
RD 2024/04/19
AB •  4  sources1.  Direct  contamination2.  Hematogenous/lymphatic  spread  (granulomatous)3.  Extension  of  infection  from  neck/retroperitoneum4.  Extension  from  lung/pleura•  Empyema  loculates  to  form  paramediastinal  abscess;  true  mediastinal  involvement  uncommon•  Mediastinitis  often  involves  pleura•  Esophageal  perforation  is  most  common  form  of  direct  contamination  (90%  of  cases)•  Secondary  causes  include:  -Oral  surgery-Trauma  to  pharynx-Tracheostomy-Mediastinoscopy-Thyroidectomy•  Pneumothorax  after  upper  endoscopy  indicates  esophageal  perforation