[X-ray study in the diagnosis of traumatic mediastinitis and its complications]

The study was based on the clinical and X-ray analysis of 68 patients treated at the Thoracoabdominal Surgery, N.V. Sklifosovsky Research Institute of Emergency Care, in 1992-1997. The paper gives pre- and postoperative X-ray findings of patients with mediastinitis. It shows it possible to define the precise location of a mediastinal inflammatory process, its severity and possible complications. The X-ray symptomatology of mediastinitis is presented according to the location and developmental stage of a mediastinal process. Jointly with surgeons, the authors have developed a procedure for X-ray examination of patients in the postoperative period, which involves the study of the course of the disease and the evaluation of the adequacy of performed treatment. The paper analyzes the most specific and severe complications of traumatic mediastinitis. Special emphasis is laid on the fact that during control X-ray studies it is important to keep the procedure that permits timely diagnosis of complications at different developmental stages of mediastinitis.