Paratracheal abscess after tracheostomy.

Mediastinal abscess formation in the paratracheal region is a complication of tracheostomy that has previously been only sparsely reported. We present a case which highlights this complication and illustrates some of the diagnostic difficulties with which it may be associated. In this case septicaemia-developed as a secondary complication and diagnosis of the abscess was dangerously delayed because the radiographic appearance masqueraded as a left upper lobe consolidation and because its rarity led to a low index of suspicion.