title: Mediastinitis following nasal intubation in the emergency department.
abstract: A patient who developed a retropharyngeal abscess and fatal mediastinitis following emergent nasal intubation is described. Despite aggressive surgical therapy the patient died of mediastinitis. Although mediastinitis as a complication of oral intubation has been described, mediastinitis following nasal intubation has not previously been reported.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Valley Medical Center, Fresno, CA 93702.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Seaman
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ballinger
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Sturgill
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maertins
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D000328:Adult; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008480:Mediastinitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D011859:Radiography