title: Odontogenic infections and descending necrotising mediastinitis: case report and review of the literature.
abstract: Descending necrotising mediastinitis is a rare complication secondary to oral surgery or odontogenic infections which ultimately spreads to the mediastinum through the anatomical cervical spaces. Delay in diagnosis, despite broad-spectrum antimicrobical therapy and extensive surgical intervention, results in an unacceptably high mortality rate (almost to 40%). A case study is presented as a rationale for a review of the current literature and to analyse the evolution in therapies, both medical and surgical from Pearse in 1938 to today.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Biasotto
authors.forename: Tommaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pellis
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cadenaro
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bevilacqua
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Berlot
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Di Lenarda
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005491:Focal Infection, Dental / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008480:Mediastinitis / Q000209:etiology*; D009336:Necrosis; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000209:etiology