mediastinitis
- noun
- /ˌmiːdiəˈstæɪnɪtɪs/
- Specialized
- The doctor explained that mediastinitis is a serious inflammation in the central part of the chest.
- necrotizing mediastinitis
- active mediastinitis
Examples
-
Descending necrotizing mediastinitis is a serious disease, and early diagnosis and treatment may lower the high mortality rate associated with it.
Academic text (2004) -
Infectious mediastinitis is a relatively common but potentially devastating complication occurring after cardiac operations that are performed through median sternotomy.
Academic text (2007) -
The ideal surgical approach to mediastinitis is still controversial.
Academic text (2004) -
Six patients, including four who had mediastinitis, required reoperation:
Academic text (2004) -
Mediastinitis was evident in 15 of the 21 patients; 13 also had an abscess.
Academic text (2004) -
Severe postoperative complications occurred in 8 patients, including 6 who had mediastinitis.
Academic text (2004) -
No definitive treatment for descending necrotizing mediastinitis has been clearly established.
Academic text (2004) -
Four patients (all with mediastinitis) required assisted ventilation following surgery.
Academic text (2004) -
Antibiotic prophylaxis may reduce the incidence of mediastinitis and deep neck abscess.
Academic text (2006) -
A 71-year-old male patient was admitted with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus mediastinitis two months after coronary artery bypass grafting.
Academic text (2007)
Surface Forms
Morphology
mediastinitis = mediastinum (transparent) = mediastin + itis
Formed from the combining form 'mediastin-' (from mediastinum) plus the medical suffix '-itis' meaning inflammation, yielding a predictable 'inflammation of the mediastinum'.
Etymology
Mediastinitis comes from mediastinum, itself built on Latin medius meaning 'in the middle', and the ending -itis meaning 'inflammation', as in tonsillitis. So, mediastinitis is an 'inflammation' in the middle part of the chest between the lungs.