[Treatment of mediastinitis].

The authors work is based on experience in the study of 56 patients with acute mediastinitis of various origin who were treated in the period from 1981 to 1990. There were 33 males and 23 females whose ages ranged from 16 to 65 years, Odontogenous mediastinitis was diagnosed in 23, tonsillogenous in 2, and mediastinitis resulting from injury to the esophagus in 31 patients. Instrumental injuries prevailed. All patients underwent operation. The character of the operation was determined by the duration, localization, and severity of the pyonecrotic process in the mediastinum. Diffuse anterior mediastinitis was managed by tunneling and drainage of the mediastinum through the seat of the removed xiphoid process. Prophylactic treatment of the mediastinal space and intensive therapy including active detoxification were applied in the 56 patients who underwent operation died, 26 of them were admitted to the clinic 24-72 hours after the onset of the disease in a state of severe intoxication caused by violently developing mediastinitis. The remaining 27 patients recovered.