title: Thoracic necrotizing fasciitis due to snake ointment that progressed to a mediastinitis.
abstract: We report the case of a 42-year old diabetic male presenting with erythema of the neck and anterior right thoracic region secondary to the application of an ointment derived from rattlesnakes, progressing to a full-blown necrotizing fasciitis in a short period of time, with associated mediastinitis, thrombocytopaenia and sepsis. The patient died despite aggressive multidisciplinary medical and surgical treatment. We present this case due to the unusual aetiology and fulminating course.
authors: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, General Hospital of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico. wadafa@hotmail.com
authors: Walid L
authors: WL
authors: Dajer-Fadel
authors: Carlos
authors: C
authors: Ibarra-Perez
authors: Rafael
authors: R
authors: Borrego-Borrego
authors: Octavio
authors: O
authors: Flores-Calderon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003435:Crotalid Venoms / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003646:Debridement; D019115:Fasciitis, Necrotizing / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008480:Mediastinitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D009824:Ointments / Q000009:adverse effects; D035441:Thoracic Wall; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D003435:Crotalid Venoms; D009824:Ointments