We document a rare and not-yet-reported condition after supracricoid partial laryngectomy: The development of descending mediastinitis with mediastinal abscess. We present a case in which early diagnosis and team management allowed for a successful outcome. The pathophysiology of this severe complication, as well as its diagnosis, management, and prevention, is discussed, together with a review of the medical scientific literature.
SobinLHWittekindC. UICC TNM classification of malignant tumor. 6th ed.New York, NY: Wiley-Liss, 2002.
2.
LaccourreyeHLaccourreyeOWeinsteinGMénardMBrasnuD. Supracricoid laryngectomy with cricohyoidoepiglottopexy: A partial laryngeal procedure for glottic carcinoma. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol1990;99:421–6.
3.
HolsingerFCLaccourreyeOWeinsteinGSDiazEMJrMcWortherAJ. Technical refinements in the supracricoid partial laryngectomy to optimize functional outcomes. J Am Coll Surg2005;201:809–20.
4.
LaccourreyeORossJBrasnuDChabardesEKellyJHLaccourreyeH. Extended supracricoid partial laryngectomy with tracheocricohyoidoepiglottopexy. Acta Otolaryngol1994;114:669–74.
5.
ReinSMittag-BonschM. Fulminant mediastinitis after goiter recurrence surgery: A case report. J Med Case Rep2010;4:364.
6.
NikolaosNDApostolakisEEMarangosMN. A less invasive management of post-thyroidectomy descending necrotizing mediastinitis is feasible: A case report and literature review. Med Sci Monit2007;13:CS83–CS87.
7.
MakeieffMGresillonNBerthetJP. Management of descending necrotizing mediastinitis. Laryngoscope2004;114:772–5.
8.
De FreitasRPFahyCPBrookerDS. Descending necrotising mediastinitis: A safe treatment algorithm. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol2007;264:181–7.
9.
MoraRJankowskaBCatramboneU. Descending necrotizing mediastinitis: Ten years' experience. Ear Nose Throat J2001;83:774,776–80.
10.
RidderGJMaierWKinzerSTeszlerCBBoedekerCCPfeifferJ. Descending necrotizing mediastinitis: Contemporary trends in etiology, diagnosis, management, and outcome. Ann Surg2010;251:528–34.
11.
HalumSLTingJYPlowmanEK. A multi-institutional analysis of tracheotomy complications. Laryngoscope2012;122:38–45.
12.
DasPZhuHShahRKRobersonDWBerryJSkinnerML. Tracheotomy-related catastrophic events: Results of a national survey. Laryngoscope2012;122:30–7.
13.
GaudinoMLosassoGAnselmiAZamparelliRSchiavelloRPossatiG. Is early tracheostomy a risk factor for mediastinitis after median sternotomy?. J Card Surg2009;24:632–6.
FreemanRKVallièresEVerrierEDKarmy-JonesRWoodDE. Descending necrotizing mediastinitis: An analysis of the effects of serial surgical debridement on patient mortality. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg2000;119:260–7.
16.
KarkasAChahineKSchmerberSBrichonPYRighiniCA. Optimal treatment of cervical necrotizing fasciitis associated with descending necrotizing mediastinitis. Br J Surg2010;97:609–15.
17.
VieiraFAllenSMStocksRMThompsonJW. Deep neck infection. Otolaryngol Clin North Am2008;41:459–83,vii.
18.
CorstenMJShamjiFMOdellPF. Optimal treatment of descending necrotising mediastinitis. Thorax1997;52:702–8.
19.
EndoSMurayamaFHasegawaT. Guideline of surgical management based on diffusion of descending necrotizing mediastinitis. Jpn J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg1999;47:14–9.
20.
de Carvalho MeloC BarbosaSarmentoP AbrantesImaedaC JogiDaudD FelixHasimotoF NishidaLeãoLE Villaça. Descending necrotizing mediastinitis: Minimally invasive thoracic surgical treatment. J Bras Pneumol2010;36:812–8.
21.
MinHKChoiYSShimYMSohnYIKimJ. Descending necrotizing mediastinitis: A minimally invasive approach using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Ann Thorac Surg2004;77:306–10.
22.
IsowaNYamadaTKijimaTHasegawaKChiharaK. Successful thoracoscopic debridement of descending necrotizing mediastinitis. Ann Thorac Surg2004;77:1834–7.
23.
NakamuraYMatsumuraAKatsuraH. Successful video-thoracoscopic drainage for descending necrotizing mediastinitis. Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg2009;57:111–5.
24.
KiernanPDHernandezAByrneWD. Descending cervical mediastinitis. Ann Thorac Surg1998;65:1483–8.
