title: Descending mediastinitis managed by sternotomy, taurolidine and delayed closure.
abstract: Descending necrotizing mediastinitis is a rare complication of upper respiratory infections. A quick diagnosis and prompt and complete surgical drainage is important for a successful outcome. A 74-year-old man with descending necrotizing mediastinitis needed a sternotomy, multiple washouts, and delayed sternal closure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Australia.
authors.forename: Anand P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Iyer
authors.forename: Gana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kugathasan
authors.forename: Ramesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Prabha
authors.forename: Paras
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.forename: Opeyemi
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kuteyi
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Larbalestier
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004322:Drainage; D016724:Empyema, Pleural / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008480:Mediastinitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D009336:Necrosis; D000039:Peritonsillar Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D017703:Retropharyngeal Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D056346:Sternotomy; D013654:Taurine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation; D013829:Thiadiazines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D058106:Wound Closure Techniques; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D013829:Thiadiazines; D013654:Taurine; C012566:taurolidine
keywords: Abscess; bacterial infections; drainage; mediastinitis; taurolidine