Acute purulent mediastinitis with sequential bilateral pleural empyema caused by neck trauma: A unique occurrence, a case report.

Background: Descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) due to blunt trauma is very rare form of mediastinitis that can rapidly progress to septicemia and multi organ failure, in spite of optimal surgical management.

Case Presentation: We report a 28-year-old patient, previously healthy man, with acute descending necrotizing mediastinitis and late sequential bilateral pleural empyema, caused by blunt neck trauma. Although after admission, the course of his illness was complicated with septic shock, homodynamic instability, renal and pulmonary insufficiency, however he survived with on time diagnosis, aggressive surgical intervention, appropriate antibiotics administration and optimal management in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Conclusions: Descending necrotizing mediastinitis due to blunt neck trauma is a rare occurrence, but can lead to late sequential bilateral empyema even after 18 days. With early diagnosis, aggressive drainage and antibiotic therapy, the patient life can be saved. The lesson we took from this case is that: 1- blunt neck trauma rarely leads to descending necrotizing mediastinitis and late sequential empyema (even after 18 days). 2- If the patient does not recover from sepsis, despite optimal surgical management, contra lateral empyema or pericarditis should be considered.