Cervicofacial and Mediastinum Emphysema Following Dental Intervention

Abstract

Mediastinitis is a clinical case with high mortality and morbidity ratio. Thus, defining the causes beforehand is significantly important. A 65-year-old male patient present to the emergency care unit because of symptoms such as swelling of his face and neck. Crepitation is noted during palpation at the right lateral face and neck of patients, indicating that swelling occurred after medical intervention by the dentist using spray. Emphysema is seen on the face, neck, and mediastinum on X-ray and CT scans. Patients were hospitalized, and parenteral antibiotic therapy was applied in case of the possibility of serious infection, which may occur because of the use of air syringe, causing the permeation of oral flora to the neck and mediastinum via buccal mucosal ruptures during the patient's dental surgery. Because swellings disappeared and the patient did not have fever on the third day of hospitalization, the patient was discharged after oral antibiotics therapy. Physicians working at the emergency care unit will always keep in mind the risk of deep neck infections and mediastinitis occurrence that patients presenting with swelling symptoms on the neck and face may have following dental surgery. (Eurasian J Emerg Med 2015; 14: 148-50)