One of the most lethal forms of mediastinitis is descending necrotizing mediastinitis, in which infection arising from the oropharynx spreads to the mediastinum. Despite the development of computed tomographic scanning to aid in the early diagnosis of mediastinitis, the past 30 years, in large part because of continued dependence on transcervical mediastinal drainage, Although transcervical drainage is usually effective in the treatment of acute mediastinitis due to a cervical esophageal perforation, these approach in the patient with descending necrotizing mediastinitis fails to provide adequate drainage and pre-disposes to sepsis and a poor outcome. In addition to cervical drainage, aggressive, early mediastinal exploration - debridement and drainage through a subxiphoid incision or thoracotomy - is advocated to salvage the patient with descending necrotizing mediastinitis.