Table 2 Demographical and clinical features of operations due to acute descending necrotizing mediastinitis from 2002 till 2019 (N = 28)

Year; n (%)

2002–2007

6 (24.0)

2 (33.3)

2 (33/3)

2 (33.3)

0 (0)

0.48

2008–2013

6 (24.0)

2 (33.3)

4 (66.7)

0 (0)

0 (0)

2014–2019

13 (52.0)

5 (38.5)

3 (23.1)

2 (15.4)

3 (23.1)

Gender; n (%)

Male

17 (68.0)

5 (29.4)

6 (35.3)

4 (23.5)

2 (11.8)

0.54

Female

8 (32.0)

4 (50.0)

3 (37.5)

0 (0)

1 (12.5)

Age (years); mean ± SD

37.2 ± 16.7

30.3 ± 12.2

41.8 ± 17.0

31.8 ± 11.6

51.0 ± 27.1

0.20

Age Group (years); n (%)

≤ 18

3 (12.0)

1 (33.3)

1 (33.3)

1 (33.3)

0 (0)

0.69

19–25

6 (24.0)

4 (66.7)

1 (16.7)

0 (0)

1 (16.7)

26–35

4 (16.0)

1 (25.0)

1 (25.0)

2 (50.0)

0 (0)

36–45

5 (20.0)

2 (40.0)

2 (40.0)

1 (20.0)

0 (0)

46–55

4 (16.0)

1 (25.0)

2 (50.0)

0 (0)

1 (25.0)

> 55

3 (12.0)

0 (0)

2 (66.7)

0 (0)

1 (33.3)

Necrotic Tissue; n (%)

7 (28.0)

2 (28.6)

3 (42.9)

2 (28.6)

0 (0)

0.70

Etiology; n (%)

Neck infection

13 (52.0)

4 (30.8)

5 (38.5)

2 (15.4)

2 (15.4)

1.00

Periodontal

10 (40.0)

4 (40.0)

4 (40.0)

1 (10.0)

1 (10.0)

1.00

Mandibular Abscess

5 (20.0)

2 (40.0)

3 (60.0)

0 (0)

0 (0)

0.68

Surgical Procedure; n (%)

Neck Exploration

9 (36.0)

5 (55.6)

2 (22.2)

0 (0)

2 (22.2)

0.08

Thoracotomy

3 (12.0)

1 (33.3)

0 (0)

2 (66.7)

0 (0)

Combined

13 (52.0)

3 (23.1)

7 (53.8)

2 (15.4)

1 (7.7)

Type of Operation; n (%)

Neck Exploration

20 (80.0)

8 (40.0)

7 (35.0)

2 (10.0)

3 (15.0)

0.37

Thoracotomy

16 (64.0)

4 (25.0)

7 (43.8)

4 (25.0)

1 (6.3)

0.16

Chest tube insertion

15 (60.0)

4 (26.7)

6 (40.0)

4 (26.7)

1 (6.7)

0.22

Drain Insertion

9 (36.0)

3 (33.3)

4 (44.4)

2 (22.2)

0 (0)

0.69

Mediastinum Exploration

8 (32.0)

3 (37.5)

3 (37.5)

2 (25.0)

0 (0)

0.72

Neck Vessel Exploration

4 (16.0)

2 (50.0)

0 (0)

0 (0)

2 (50.0)

0.04

Pneumolysis

2 (8.0)

0 (0)

0 (0)

2 (50.0)

0 (0)

0.03

Sternotomy

2 (8.0)

1 (50.0)

1 (50.0)

0 (0)

0 (0)

1.00

Decortication

2 (8.0)

0 (0)

0 (0)

2 (100)

0 (0)

0.03

Pleurotomy

1 (4.0)

0 (0)

0 (0)

1 (100)

0 (0)

0.28

Symptom; n (%)

Neck pain

18 (72.0)

6 (33.3)

6 (33.3)

3 (16.7)

3 (16.7)

0.85

Chills/Fever

12 (48.0)

3 (25.0)

5 (41.7)

4 (33.3)

0 (0)

0.04

Chest pain

7 (28.0)

2 (28.6)

2 (28.6)

1 (14.3)

2 (28.6)

0.55

Dysphagia

6 (24.0)

0 (0)

2 (33.3)

3 (50.0)

1 (16.7)

0.03

Dyspnea

6 (24.0)

0 (0)

4 (66.7)

2 (33.3)

0 (0)

0.05

Tachycardia

5 (20.0)

1 (20.0)

2 (40.0)

2 (40.0)

0 (0)

0.37

Tachypnea

4 (16.0)

1 (25.0)

1 (25.0)

2 (50.0)

0 (0)

0.34

Decreases level of conciseness

2 (8.0)

1 (50.0)

1 (50.0)

0 (0)

0 (0)

1.00

Cough

2 (8.0)

1 (50)

1 (50)

0 (0)

0 (0)

1.00

Puss discharge; n (%)

13 (52.0)

1 (7.7)

6 (46.2)

3 (23.1)

3 (23.1)

0.01

Incision; n (%)

Cervical

20 (80.0)

7 (35.0)

8 (40.0)

2 (10.0)

3 (15.0)

0.37

Thoracotomy

14 (56.0)

2 (14.3)

7 (50.0)

4 (28.6)

1 (7.1)

0.02

Cervicothoracic

13 (52.0)

1 (7.7)

7 (53.8)

4 (30.8)

1 (7.7)

0.002

Superficial

1 (3.6)

0 (0)

1 (100)

0 (0)

0 (0)

1.00

Incision Position; n (%)

Classic cervical

20 (80.0)

7 (35.0)

8 (40.0)

2 (10.0)

3 (15.0)

0.37

Right posterolateral thoracotomy

5 (20)

0 (0)

2 (40.0)

2 (40.0)

1 (20.0)

0.13

Left posterolateral Thoracotomy

1 (100)

0 (0)

0 (0)

1 (100)

0 (0)

0.28

Right anterolateral thoracotomy

5 (20)

1 (20.0)

2 (40.0)

2 (40.0)

0 (0)

0.37

Left anterolateral thoracotomy

3 (12.0)

1 (33.3)

1 (33.3)

1 (33.3)

0 (0)

1.00

Oblique anterior and parallel to sternocleidomastoid muscle

14 (56.0)

4 (28.6)

6 (42.9)

1 (7.1)

3 (21.4)

0.25