title: Diffuse descending necrotising mediastinitis and pleural empyema secondary to acute odontogenic infection resulting in severe dysphagia.
abstract: We report a case of acute odontogenic sepsis in a 59-year-old man, presenting with diffuse, descending necrotising mediastinitis complicated by pleural empyema. Despite surviving the odds, his recovery was complicated by severe dysphagia, resulting in gastrostomy feeding for 6 months. Until now, severe dysphagia following descending necrotising mediastinitis has been unreported.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, St John's Hospital, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Glen
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, St John's Hospital, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morrison
mesh_terms: D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D016724:Empyema, Pleural / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005491:Focal Infection, Dental / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008480:Mediastinitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy