Necrotizing fasciitis of the nose complicated with cavernous sinus thrombosis

An Unusual Case of a Pediatric Nasal Septal Abscess with Life-Threatening Complications in COVID-19 Pandemic

In this modern era, when access to healthcare services is improved, and awareness among the general population is enhanced, the presentation of mere septal abscess of the nose as a fatal complication is less common. Due to various lockdown restrictions in the COVID-19 scenario and fear to contract an infection, patients are presenting late to the health care setting for proper management. We treated an 11-year old child of complicated nasal septal abscess who responded well to aspiration of pus and medical treatment. Our patient is a rare case report who progressed from vestibulitis to septal abscess and further leading to sinusitis, orbital, and intracranial complications.

Use of ventriculostomy in the treatment of septic cavernous sinus thrombosis (SCST)

We present a novel treatment with the use of intraventricular antibiotics delivered through a ventriculostomy in a patient who developed septic cavernous sinus thrombosis after sinus surgery. A 65-year-old woman presented with acute on chronic sinusitis. The patient underwent a diagnostic left maxillary antrostomy, ethmoidectomy, sphenoidotomy and sinusotomy. Postoperatively, the patient experienced altered mental status with episodic fever despite treatment with broad-spectrum antimicrobial therapy. MRI of the brain showed extensive meningeal enhancement with the involvement of the right trigeminal and abducens nerve along with thick enhancement along the right pons and midbrain. MR arteriogram revealed a large filling defect within the cavernous sinus. Intraventricular gentamicin was administered via external ventricular drain (ie, ventriculostomy) every 24 hours for 14 days with continued treatment of intravenous ceftriaxone and metronidazole. The patient improved with complete resolution of her cavernous sinus meningitis on repeat brain imaging at 6 months posthospitalisation.

[Septic thrombus of the cavernous sinus]

The present review was designed to represent modern views of the problem of etiopathogenesis, clinical features, diagnostics, and treatment of septic thrombus of the cavernous sinus with special reference to the currently available methods for the detection and management of this condition.

Cavernous sinus thrombosis of nasal origin in children

Cavernous sinus thrombosis is a rare presentation. Early diagnosis and aggressive treatment are required to prevent morbidity and mortality. Nasal infections can give rise to serious intracranial complications. Presented here is a case series of cavernous sinus thrombosis of nasal septic origin. The purpose of this article is to report our experience in pediatric patients with this illness to ascertain a clinical course and outcomes for further clinical application. Eight (08) cases of nasalseptic origin of cavernous sinus thrombosis ata tertiary care teaching hospital in the north India region of India were included in the study. Cases presented with various symptoms like headache, proptosis, ophthalmoplegia and fever. The patients were investigated by doing High Resolution Computed Tomography of nose & PNS and brain with intravenous contrast. The cases were treated with intravenous broad spectrum antibiotics. Eight patients less than 16 years of age (mean age of 11.2 years)diagnosed with cavernous sinus thrombophlebitis due to nasal septic focus over the period of 05 years were reviewed retrospectively. The predisposing infections and causative microorganisms were similar to previous reports in children. A conservative management strategy with antibiotics gave a good prognosis in these cases. There were no deaths. Early recognition of this condition, the appropriate selection of empirical antibiotic therapy, and the awareness of associated complication were the key factors leading to excellent outcome.