A drainage tube for mediastinal abscesses.
The problem of mediastinal abscesses following esophageal rupture or perforation continues to be a source of considerable morbidity and mortality. Drainage of the paraesophageal area by semirigid chest catheters can occasionally cause aortic erosion. A technique of using soft rubber drains within the standard chest tube combines the benefits of early suction with long term drainage of the abscess cavity.
D000038:Abscess / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D004322:Drainage / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004935:Esophageal Diseases / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous