Clinical Analysis of 28 Patients with Deep Neck Infection

Abstract

Although the number of patients with deep neck infection has been decreasing with the development of antibiotics, this condition sometimes shows a poor prognosis. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are important for good results. In this study, 28 patients (21 males, 7 females) with deep neck infection treated between April 1991 and March 2004 at Department of Otolaryngology, Ehime Prefectural Central Hospital were investigated retrospectively. Twenty-seven of those patients resulted in good recovery, while one patient died the day after admission because of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Surgical drainage was performed for 19 of 28 patients and tracheostomy or postoperative endotracheal intubation was performed in eight patients. The average interval between admission and surgery was 1.2 days, which was shorter than that in other previous reports. Early diagnosis using CT with enhancement and surgical drainage are important in order to prevent progression of abscess into the mediastinum, which is sometimes fatal. Tracheostomy or postoperative endotracheal intubation is necessary when upper aiway stenosis is occurs.