2015 Volume 144 Pages 114-115
Deep neck abscesses represent a severe infection that requires prompt treatment. We report herein on cases of deep neck abscess requiring surgical drainage. The subjects of this study were 25 patients treated in our department between January 2009 and June 2013. They consisted of 12 males and 13 females ranging in age from 5 to 89 years with an average of 60 years. Hypertension and diabetes were predominant in their medical histories and the major causes of the abscesses were pharyngolaryngitis, tonsillitis and dental infections. All patients underwent emergency surgery on the day of consultation. In bacteriological examinations, 19 patients tested positive with aerobic bacteria being detected in four patients and anaerobic bacteria in 17. Tracheotomy was jointly conducted in 20 patients and four patients underwent repeat surgery. The mean length of hospital stay was 31 days and three patients were in hospital for eight weeks or longer. All three were elderly patients aged 75 or above and two had also undergone tracheotomy. Diabetes did not contribute to prolonging hospital stays. Among the factors prolonging hospital stays were advanced age, tracheotomy and the accompanying swallowing difficulty.