Mediastinitis

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Respiratory system

Chest infection

• Fever
• Chills
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Malaise

Signs of mediastinitis include chest wall tenderness, wound drainage, and an unstable chest wall in patients who have had recent surgery. A chest x-ray may show a widened mediastinum, caused by the collection of white blood cells within the chest.

A chest CT scan may show a more detailed view of the mediastinitis. Your health care provider may insert a needle into the area of inflammation and withdraw a sample to send for gram stain and culture to identify the source of any infection.

Review Date: 07/28/2006
Reviewed By: Charlotte Grayson, MD, Private Practice specializing in Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease, Smyrna, GA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.