Descending cervical mediastinitis: report of 15 cases]

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the cause, diagnosis and treatment of descending cervical mediastinitis. METHODS: Fifteen cases of descending cervical mediastinitis, which were treated from January 1985 to December 1997, were retrospectively reviewed. There were 10 males and 5 females, ranging in age from 2.5 to 82 years. RESULTS: The cause of descending cervical mediastinitis included odontogenic infection, suppurative tonsillitis, suppurative otitis media (cholesteatoma) complicating Mouret abscess, pharyngeal injury by foreign body and esophageal perforation. Different ways of drainage were adopted. Twelve cases were cured and three died. CONCLUSION: The key to successful management of descending cervical mediastinitis is early recognition, prompt and effective surgical drainage and appropriate antibiotics.