Successful novel drainage treatment of mediastinal abscess complicating tracheostomy

Drainage from an old tracheostomy stoma with occurrence of fever and chills in a patient led to the discovery of a mediastinal abscess behind the anterior chest wall, an unusual complication of tracheostomy. Successful treatment consisted of intravenous administration of an antibiotic and repeated aspiration of the abscess through a plastic tube inserted into the old tracheostomy stoma.