Deep neck infections affect fascial compartment of the head and neck and their contents, can lead to lethal complications. Antibiotic therapy has greatly reduced the complications of these infections, but they may still result in significant
morbidity
and mortality.
A retrospective study was performed on 37 patients with deep neck infections admitted for diagnosis and treatment at Kyung-Hee university hospital, during 10-year period from July, 1985, to June, 1994.
@ES The result obtained as follows:
@EN 1) The sites of infections were 16 cases of parapharyngeal space (44%), 7 cases of submandibular space (18%), 4 cases of sublingual spaces (11%), 3 cases of retropharyngeal space (8%), parotid space 3 cases (8%) and 2 cases of mixed space
involvements.
2) The possible etiologic events were 11 cases of tonsillitis (30%), 7 cases of upper respiratory tract infections (20%), 5 cases of odontogenic infections (14%) and 9 cases of unknown origin (24%).
3) The isolated pathogenic organisms were streptococcus species in 12 cases (50%), staphylococcus species in 4 cases (17%) and M. catarrhalis in 3 cases (12%).
4) CT scan was most valuable to diagnosis and management.
5) 20 cases were treated medically and 17 cases were surgically, the mediastinitis was developed at only one case which involved multiple spaces. (Korean J Otolaryngol 38:9, 1995)
|