title: Intracranial and internal jugular vein thrombosis secondary to ENT infections: a report of 3 cases.
abstract: We report 3 cases of rare, life-threatening intracranial and internal jugular vein (IJV) thrombosis that were caused by common ENT infections. These infections included otitis media in a 6-year-old girl, tonsillitis in a 21-year-old woman, and odontogenic sepsis in a 56-year-old woman. All 3 patients were treated with culture-directed systemic antibiotics; 2 of them also required surgical drainage (the child and the older adult). The 2 adults also received therapeutic anticoagulation, which was continued until venous recanalization was documented; the duration of combined antibiotic and anticoagulation treatment was 6 weeks. All 3 patients made uneventful recoveries. Significant morbidities associated with intracranial and IJV thrombosis were avoided as a result of prompt diagnosis and judicious treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Westmead Hospital, PO Box 533, Wentworthville 2145, NSW, Australia. friffat@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Faruque
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Riffat
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Forer
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wignall
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Veivers
authors.forename: Nirmal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Patel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005674:Fusobacterium Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D020767:Intracranial Thrombosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D007601:Jugular Veins; D008875:Middle Aged; D010035:Otitis Media, Suppurative / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D010508:Periodontal Abscess / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D018805:Sepsis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000925:Anticoagulants