title: Deep neck infection. Review of 286 cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Deep neck infections (DNI) are potentially lethal processes and are susceptible to severe complications. This study shows an increment of the incidence and investigated the cause. More than 30% of cases are idiopathic, but they are commonly related to a dental or oropharyngeal infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present 286 consecutive cases in a retrospective 11-year study. We analysed the clinical picture, antecedents and concurrent diseases, and diagnostic and therapeutic approaches that could be related to developing a DNI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A mayor increase in DNI incidence in our setting was seen in the last few years. The mayor complications were mediastinitis, septic shock with disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome, necrotising fasciitis and acute respiratory failure. A lower cranial nerve palsy that develops into dysphagia and leukoencephalopathy are the most frequent sequela. We found 10% of aspiration pneumonia. Mortality in adults was 5.9% and in children, 6.2%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Deep neck infections constitute a medical and surgical emergency. Severe complications may arise in a short time. We must be vigilant to alarm symptoms such as dyspnea, stridor, pain in the floor of the mouth, sialohrrea, trismus, etc. Improvements in antibiotic therapy, diagnostic imaging and critical patient support modalities have decreased mortality and there is a better prognosis, with complications being identified and treated earlier.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de ORL, Hospital Nuestra Señora de Sonsoles, Ávila, España. pabmaransantos@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Santos Gorjón
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Blanco Pérez
authors.forename: Ana Cristina
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Morales Martín
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Del Pozo de Dios
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Estévez Alonso
authors.forename: María Isabel
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Calle de la Cabanillas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult