Mediastinitis

This code represents inflammation of the mediastinum, the central compartment of the thoracic cavity. This condition can be acute or chronic and is often a severe complication of infection or surgical procedures.

Apply this code when documentation clearly indicates inflammation of the mediastinal tissues. This is frequently seen following cardiothoracic surgery (e.g., sternal wound infection leading to mediastinitis), esophageal perforation, or spread of infection from adjacent structures. Supporting documentation should specify the diagnosis of mediastinitis.

• Always look for documentation specifying the cause or type of mediastinitis (e.g., acute, chronic, postprocedural) to determine if a more specific code is available.
• If mediastinitis is a complication of a procedure, ensure appropriate external cause codes and complication codes are also reported.
• Distinguish from other mediastinal conditions like mediastinal emphysema (J98.2) or other specified disorders of the mediastinum (J98.59).