[Treatment of acute mediastinitis].

The observations concern 41 patients with acute mediastinitis. 35 of them were operated upon; 28 of these patients recovered, and 7 (20%) died. 3 of 6 patients subjected to the conservative treatment died. The authors' experience proves that the possibility of improving the outcomes in acute mediastinitis correlates directly with an early diagnosis of this severe disease and an early surgical intervention.