title: Mediastinal tap as useful method for the early diagnosis of mediastinal infection.
abstract: The simple and quick technique of mediastinal aspiration (mediastinal tap) can facilitate the early diagnosis of mediastinitis in the postoperative cardiac surgical patient. This technique offers objective evidence of mediastinal infection before the development of wound drainage or sternal instability, or both.
mesh_terms: D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008480:Mediastinitis / Q000175:diagnosis; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D013396:Suction / Q000379:methods*