Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-ndw9j Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T14:48:01.083Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Mediastinitis: a life-threatening complication of acute tonsillitis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 March 2006

Z Bell ,
A A C Menezes ,
W J Primrose  and
J A McGuigan
Z Bell
Affiliation:
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
A A C Menezes
Affiliation:
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
W J Primrose
Affiliation:
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
J A McGuigan
Affiliation:
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Acute tonsillitis is a common condition and usually runs a benign course. However life-threatening complications do still occur, even in this postantibiotic era. Infection can spread downwards into the mediastinum through the anatomic cervical spaces, causing widespread cellulitis, necrosis, abscess formation and sepsis. We present a case of descending mediastinitis in an 18-year-old woman, arising from her first episode of tonsillitis and treated successfully by surgical drainage. We believe that an awareness of this complication, early diagnosis using computed tomography scanning, and prompt, adequate surgical drainage will reduce morbidity and mortality.

Keywords

TonsillitisMediastinitisRetropharyngeal Abscess, Complications
Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 119 , Issue 9 , September 2005 , pp. 743 - 745
Copyright
© 2005 Royal Society of Medicine Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)