The statistical bootstrap model is critically revised in order to include a
medium-dependent resonance width in it. We show that a thermodynamic model with
a vanishing width below the Hagedorn temperature T_H and a Hagedorn
spectrum-like width above T_H may not only eliminate the divergence of the
thermodynamic functions above T_H, but also gives a satisfactory description
the lattice quantum chromodynamics (QCD) data on the energy density above the
chiral/deconfinement transition as the main result of this contribution. This
model allows to explain the absence of heavy resonance contributions in the fit
of the experimentally measured particle ratios at SPS and RHIC energies.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figures, contribution to proceedings of NAPP 2003,
Dubrovnik, Croatia, 26-31 May, 200