[Odontogenic mediastinitis. Diagnostics and treatment].

Unlabelled: The aim of our work was to evaluate the diagnostic and treatment of patients with odontogenic mediastinitis.

Methods: The last 10 years (1991-2001) 13 males and 4 females, mean age 43 years, with odontogenic mediastinitis were submitted to surgical treatment. Primary odontogenic abscess occurred in all.

[Empyemectomy-treatment of pleural empyema].

Empyema thoracis has been recognized as a disease entity since the time of Hippocrates and historically has been associated with high mortality. Over 30 years ago, the American Thoracic Society described three stages in the natural course of empyema, namely the exudative, fibrinopurulent, and organizing phases. Decortication and suction drainage usually result in lung re-expansion, otherwise pleurocutaneous window, intrathoracic transposition of skeletal muscle, or thoracoplasty remain life-saving but now uncommon options for treating a closed-space infection.