Airway obstruction complicating mediastinal tuberculosis: a life-threatening presentation.
We discuss the case of a young man with mediastinal tuberculosis who presented with pericarditis, thymic involvement, and respiratory failure because of upper airway obstruction. Although mediastinal tuberculosis is not uncommon, the simultaneous occurrence of these complications is exceedingly rare and in this patient resulted in an acute life-threatening illness. The diagnosis and treatment of this condition can be complex, and these aspects of the patient's care are discussed.
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Barts and the London NHS Trust, United Kingdom.
Wael I
WI
Awad
Tracey D
TD
Graves
Veronica C
VC
White
Kit
K
Wong
D000328:Adult; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000209:etiology*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D013950:Thymus Gland; D014388:Tuberculosis, Lymph Node / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis