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Mediastinitis - Overview

Nombres alternativos

Infección del tórax; Infección del pecho

Definición:

Es la hinchazón e irritación (inflamación) del área entre los pulmones (mediastino). Esta área contiene el corazón, los vasos sanguíneos, la tráquea, el esófago, la glándula del timo, los ganglios linfáticos y los tejidos conectivos.

Causas, incidencia y factores de riesgo:

La mediastinitis por lo regular resulta de una infección. Se puede presentar de manera súbita (aguda) o se puede desarrollar lentamente y empeorar con el tiempo (crónica). Casi siempre ocurre en pacientes que recientemente tuvieron una endoscopia digestiva alta o una cirugía de tórax.

Los pacientes pueden sufrir una ruptura del esófago que cause mediastinitis. Las causas de la ruptura abarcan:

Un procedimiento como una endoscopia
Vómito constante o forzado
Traumatismo

Otras causas de mediastinitis abarcan:

Entre los factores de riesgo están:

Enfermedad del esófago
Problemas en las vías digestivas altas
Endoscopia o cirugía de tórax reciente
Sistema inmunitario debilitado

Sistema respiratorio

Reviewed last on: 9/15/2010
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

Referencias

Park DR, Vallieres E. Pneumomediastinum and mediastinitis. In: Mason RJ, Broaddus VC, Martin TR, et al.. Murray & Nadel’s Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2010: chap 77.

Celli BR. Diseases of the diaphragm, chest wall, pleura, and mediastinum. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 100.

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