Life-threatening tracheal perforation secondary to descending necrotizing mediastinitis

Abstract

Survival from destruction of the mediastinal structures secondary to descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) is very rare. We present a successfully treated case of tracheal perforation secondary to DNM. A 34-year-old man with a history of type 1 diabetes mellitus, diagnosed as pharyngeal abscess and subsequent DNM affecting the anterior mediastinum and paratracheal space, was referred to our institute. The patient underwent cervico-mediastinal drainage for DNM. Nine days after the drainage operation, the membranous portion of the trachea perforated, resulting in life-threatening ventilation failure. The patient underwent closure of the fistula with the pedicled intercostal muscle flap under posterolateral thoracotomy with veno-venous extracorporeal membranous oxygenation support. Before complete recovery, open window thoracostomy was required to control residual air leak.