| Disease | Injury | Nutrition | Poison |
| Special Topic | Surgery | Symptoms | Test |
| |
|
| Overview | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention |
Mediastinitis |
| Alternative Names: |
| Chest infection |
| Symptoms: |
| Signs and tests: |
Signs of mediastinitis include chest wall tenderness, wound drainage, and an unstable chest wall in patients who have had recent surgery. A chest X-ray may show a widened mediastinum, caused by the collection of inflammatory cells within the chest. A chest CT scan can show a more detailed view of the mediastinitis. Your health care provider may insert a needle into the area of inflammation and withdraw a sample to send for Gram stain and culture to identify the source of any infection. |
Reviewed By: Eleftherios Mylonakis, M.D., Division of Infectious Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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