Descending Necrotizing Mediastinitis: Analysis of 9 Cases in Our Hospital

Descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) is a serious and progressive infection involving the neck and chest and with high mortality if not treated quickly and properly. The aim of this study is to share our practices for managing this condition.

We retrospectively evaluated 9 patients diagnosed with DNM in our hospital between January 2006 and October 2019. Age, gender, origin of infection, length of hospital stay, microorganisms present, type of surgical treatment, and clinical outcomes were reviewed.

All patients underwent surgery to drain neck and mediastinal secretions and collections. Three (33.3%) patients were treated with transcervical drainage alone, and 6 (66.7%) patients were treated with combined transcervical and transthoracic drainage. Reoperations were reported in 3 (33.3%) cases. The average length of hospital stay was 22.78 ± 10.05 days (range: 9-40 days). The average length of intensive care unit stay was 6.44 ± 10.10 days (range: 0-25 days). There were no in-hospital deaths, and all patients were discharged home with good outcomes.

To improve the prognosis of DNM, we suggest early and adequate debridement of all affected areas along with the proper use of antibiotics. A multidisciplinary approach involving both cardiothoracic and ENT surgeons is also required.