The Result of Treatment of Deep Neck Infection in Patients Referred According to Public Health System

Suppurative Cervicomediastinitis From the Perspective of the Head and Neck Surgeon in a Tertiary Treatment Unit

Introduction Cervical suppurations represent an emergency pathology, with a dramatic evolution in the absence of adequate treatment. It frequently affects young people, hence the medico-legal implications of these cases. The anatomical substrate for the development of these deep cervical suppurations is represented by the cervical fascia and spaces. A distinct and extremely serious sub-chapter within diffuse cervical suppurations is necrotic cervical fasciitis, a polymicrobial infection with the most common oropharyngeal or odontogenic starting point, with rapidly progressive, destructive evolution in the deep fascial planes of the neck. Materials and method We will present a retrospective clinical study carried out on 26 cases diagnosed and treated between September 2013 and September 2018 in the ENT Clinic Department of the Bucharest University Emergency Hospital. Results Our retrospective analysis of a cohort of 26 patients in a tertiary referral center showed that deep cervical suppurations are slightly more common in men than in women. The most affected age groups were 50-59 years, followed by 20-29 years, representing a percentage of 53.84% of all cases. Also, 53.84% of the studied patients with deep cervical suppurations had a precarious and modest status. The most common clinical signs at presentation were malaise, cervical swelling, neck pain, dysphagia, fever, dysphonia, dyspnea, and cervical erythema. More than 60% of suppurations were odontogenic and 23% were caused by a traumatic element. Diabetes mellitus represents a comorbidity in 30.8% of patients, while 42.3% of patients had no personal pathological history, and thus this pathology has a lethal potential also in a patient in full health. In the study group, 46 (15%) had cervicomediastinitis, and 61.53% developed necrotizing fasciitis. One-third (34.61%) of our patients had undergone previous drainage surgery. Bacteriological examinations of the wound were with group C, D, G betahemolytic streptococcus, while 61.53% of the cultures were negative. Most patients required at least two cervicotomies. The average duration of hospitalization was 28.26 days, and the mortality rate was 23.07%; therefore, practically, one out of four cases resulted in death. In the studied group, no direct relationship can be established between the length of hospitalization and the favorable and unfavorable evolution of the patient. We propose a 10-step management protocol for the management of a cervical suppuration. Conclusion The multidisciplinary approach to these suppurations by the head and neck surgeon, the thoracic surgeon, the oromaxillofacial surgeon, anesthetist, imagist, specialist in infectious diseases, pathologist, psychologist, and so on, is the key to success in a patient who presents not only a suppuration in the throat but also a disease with systemic resonance and significant lethal potential.

Innovative Continuous Wound Irrigation Approach for Postoperative Treatment of Masticator Space Abscess

This is a case of an innovative method of continuous irrigation approach for wound care following surgical drainage. Compared with the traditional labor-intensive irrigation, this novel handy method is not only reducing the workload but is also less time-consuming and inexpensive. This continuous irrigation approach is an efficient alternative approach for wound care in deep infection of the head and neck.

Identification of risk factors for mortality and delayed oral dietary intake in patients with open drainage due to deep neck infections: Nationwide study using a Japanese inpatient database

BACKGROUNDS

Data on risk factors for deep neck infection including descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) have been limited. Using a nationwide database, the aim was identifying the factors related to patient death and delay in recovering oral intake.

METHODS

Data of 4949 patients were extracted from a Japanese inpatient database between 2012 and 2017. The main outcome was survival at discharge. In a subgroup analysis of the 4949 patients with survival, the second outcome was delay in the interval between admission and full recovery of oral intake.

RESULTS

Only a few factors (advanced-age, ventilation) were associated with both mortality and delayed oral dietary intake by logistic regression analyses. Conversely, several factors including DNM (adjusted-odds ratio [OR] 1.41) and repeated surgery (adjusted-OR 1.70) were significantly related only to delayed oral dietary intake.

CONCLUSIONS

Although DNM was not necessarily related to mortality, patients with DNM should receive careful attention to avoid delayed oral dietary intake.