title: Use of cervicothoracic anatomy as a guide for directed drainage of descending necrotizing mediastinitis.
abstract: Descending necrotizing mediastinitis is a potentially lethal infection originating from the oropharynx. Adequate abscess drainage is crucial to successful treatment. We present novel management of descending necrotizing mediastinitis using a series of anterior mediastinal incisions adjoined by Penrose drains. The success of this treatment was dependent on radiographic documentation of infection confined to the anterior cervicothoracic plane.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire 03756-0001, USA. cherie.p.erkmen@hitchcock.org
authors.forename: Cherie Parungo
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Erkmen
authors.forename: Hanghang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Julianna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Czum
authors.forename: Joseph A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Paydarfar
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D004322:Drainage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008480:Mediastinitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D009333:Neck / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D009336:Necrosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014076:Tooth Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome