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Descending Necrotizing Mediastinitis: A Potential Consequence of Odontogenic Infection Emma G Walshaw Richard Taylor Jiten Parmar Dental Update 2024 49:3, 707-709.
Authors
Emma GWalshaw
BDS, MJDF, RCS(Eng), PgCert (MedEd)
Medical Student, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Leeds School of Medicine
Descending necrotizing mediastinitis is a potential consequence of cervicofacial infection, which can promptly progress into a life-threatening disease, with the sequelae of severe sepsis, organ failure and death. This article highlights the importance of this pathology and discusses key signs and symptoms that may be identified when performing an assessment on a patient with a large cervicofacial swelling. This article also describes the case of a young and healthy patient who experienced this pathology from an odontogenic source.
CPD/Clinical Relevance: Descending necrotizing mediastinitis, although rare, is a potentially life threatening consequence of odontogenic infection and awareness of it is imperative for dental professionals.
Article
This article discusses the presentation of descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) arising from an odontogenic infection. Once established, DNM poses a significant threat to life and can lead to sepsis, organ failure and death.1 It is imperative that dental care professionals have an appreciation of DNM as a risk of odontogenic infection, and are able to escalate a patient's care to the appropriate specialist centre should they suspect that a patient is experiencing this pathology.
While there are numerous case reports published regarding mediastinitis associated with odontogenic infections,2,3,4 this case highlights that even young patients, with no underlying health conditions, are at risk of DNM.
The term mediastinitis refers to either acute or chronic inflammation of the tissues within the middle thoracic cavity (mediastinum). The mediastinum contains important anatomical structures such as the thymus gland, the pericardial sac, the heart, aorta, oesophagus, trachea and major blood vessels. The mediastinum is continuous with fascial spaces in the neck. This anatomical relation explains the possibility of spread of infection from the fascial spaces of the neck into the chest, particularly from the parapharyngeal, prevertebral and retropharyngeal (danger) spaces.5
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