Clinical Profile of Deep Neck Space Infections in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Kerala

Abstract

BACKGROUNDDeep Neck Infection (DNI) is a potentially life threatening disease commonly seen in middle aged men. Associated co-morbidities like Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension and Cardiac diseases result in life threatening complications. DNI are observed in the population who are addiction to drugs, smoking and alcoholism. DNI are associated with complications like mediastinitis, Pneumothorax, pericarditis, renal failure and multi organ failure. The present study is a prospective clinical profile study of DNIs treated in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Kerala. Aim-To describe the profile of aetiology, clinical features and outcomes of patients with DNIs.

Deep Neck Space Infections a Retrospective Study

“…[10] Another study performed by Santhosh and associates (2017) highlighted that all (100.0%) patients had neck pain, followed by dyspnoea (47.0%), drooling (44.0%), hardness of voice (44.0%), trismus (39.0%), odynophagia (29.0%), swelling (26.0%), fever (17.0%) and dysphagia (15.0%). [1] As far as etiological factors of DNSI are concerned, study revealed that most causative factor was odontogenic infection which was prevalent among 36.0% patients while 10.0% had tonsillopharyngitis, 10.0% infected lymphadenopathy, 4.0% trauma, 16.0% patients had salivary gland infections and 14.0% patients had complicated otitis media while 10.0% were unknown. Likewise Gujrathi and teammates (2016) also highlighted in their study that odontogenic infection was prevalent among 24.1% patients while 13.3% had tonsillopharyngitis, 1.5% furunculosis, 21.5% suppurative lymphadenopathy, 10.4% tuberculous lymphadenopathy, 13.3% had salivary gland infections, 5.9% infected cysts, 7.4% had complicated otitis media and 0.4% had foreign body while 2.2 were unknown.…”

“…Deep neck space infection is the infectivity in potential gaps and facial planes of neck, either with cellulitis or abscess formation. [1][2][3] At least eleven deep spaces shaped by facial planes are the part of complex structure, they make potential infectivity locations and based upon their association with hyoid bone. [4] The classification of deep neck spaces is as under: Gaps localized over hyoid level: submandibular, peritonsillar, parotid, buccal, parapharyngeal, temporal/masticatory; Gaps involving complete border of the neck: prevertebral, carotid and retropharyngeal; and pretracheal or anterior visceral gap below the hyoid.…”