ABSTRACT
Objective@#To investigate the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) to provide a reference for the early diagnosis and timely treatment of DNM.@*Methods@#Data on DNM in China was electronically retrieved from the core databases and comprehensively reviewed from June 2012 to June 2023. The infection, pathogenic microorganisms, main symptoms, comorbidities and treatment methods of DNM were analyzed.@*Results@#The data of a total of 781 DNM patients, with an average age of (52.97 ± 5.64) years, were retrieved, including 554 males and 227 females. Odontogenic source, tonsillitis, pharyngeal abscess, sialoadenitis, upper respiratory tract infection, foreign body injury, or iatrogenic traumatic procedures are common causes. Among these, odontogenic infection is the most common source. Streptococcus sp. (n = 217) and Staphylococcus sp. (n = 82) were most isolated, followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (equally n = 59). A total of 69.4% (542/781) of DNM patients recruited in this study were discovered to have various comorbidities, and more than one-third of these patients (n = 185) had diabetes. Of the broad antibiotics, carbapenem was most frequently used as treatment, and vancomycin was the most frequently coadministered. The mediastinal drainage approach varies widely, and the optimal regimen is still unknown. Seventy-two patients were treated with video-assisted thoracoscopic/mediastinoscopic surgical drainage, 22 patients were treated with percutaneous catheter drainage, 30 underwent the transcervical approach, and 40 underwent thoracotomy. A total of 617 patients who were selected underwent the appropriate combined operation for surgical drainage according to the specific location of the infected focus. The overall mortality rate of all 781 DNM patients included was 11.2%.@*Conclusion@#The most effective diagnosis and treatment of DNM is a high degree of clinical vigilance followed by prompt and adequate drainage with intensive care, including hemodynamic monitoring, nutritional support, computer tomographic scanning repeated as necessary, and combined use of systemic antibiotics.
ABSTRACT
@#Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and pleurodesis for spontaneous pneumothorax. Methods A retrospective analysis of 157 patients with spontaneous pneumothorax undergoing VATS from January 2012 to March 2016 in our hospital was done. According to different treatments, patients were divided into two groups: a group A (65 patients receving pleurodesis, 52 males and 13 females with a mean age of 34.77 years ranging from 17 to 73 years) and a group B (92 patients without pleurodesis, 76 males and 16 females with a mean age of 34.66 years ranging from 16 to 72 years). In the group A 29 patients underwent closed thoracic drainage; while in the group B there were 39 patients. Results The patients were followed up for 3 months to 4 years. The recurrence rate of the group A was lower than that of the group B, but the difference was not statistically significant. For patients receving closed thoracic drainage preoperatively, intraoperative drainage volume at postoperative 24 h in the group A was more than that of the group B, but postoperative hospital stay was less than that of the group B (P<0.05). For patients not receving closed thoracic drainage preoperatively, drainage volume at postoperative 24 h, total drainage volume, postoperative hospital stay in the group A were more than those of the group B (P<0.05). Conclusion Pleurodesis can not reduce the recurrence rate of spontaneous pneumothorax. Preoperative closed thoracic drainage combined with intraoperative pleurodesis can effectively reduce postoperative hospitalization; therefore pleurodesis is recommended. If preoperative closed thoracic drainage is not adopted, surgery without pleurodesis can effectively reduce thoracic drainage at postoperative 24 h, total drainage volume and hospital stay and the perioperative results are better; therefore mechanical pleurodesis is not recommended.