Secondary mediastinal infection

The plane of the neck fascia is directly connected with the anatomical plane of the upper mediastinum and the visceral space. The structure and plane of the lower mediastinum also communicate with the upper part of the retroperitoneum through the fascia. Infection from one area of ​​the upper surgery can directly pass through this anatomical area and enter another anatomical area. In particular, infections originating in the neck are not only due to gravity, but also durable due to the negative pressure of the chest cavity spreading down into the mediastinum. Anatomically speaking, the above gaps and channels include the post-pharyngeal space, the pretracheal space, the posterior sternum space, the neck vascular sheath, and the space around the esophagus. In recent years, cases of sternal midline sawing for cardiovascular surgery have increased, and the incidence of postoperative mediastinal infection has also increased.