title: Improvised Vacuum-Assisted Closure for severe neck infection in poorly equipped conditions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dental infections are common and are mainly due to dental caries. When left untreated, these infections can lead to severe life-threatening sepsis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors reported a case of a severe odontogenic deep neck space infection in a 54-year-old male. The patient was a heavy smoker with incidentally discovered diabetes. He was successfully treated by surgical drainage combined with an improvised Vacuum-Assisted Closure (VAC) system. The results of surgical drainage followed by insertion of an improvised VAC system were spectacular. The abscess resolved in response to dual-agent antibiotic therapy on day 17 and blood glucose control was achieved with insulin. Full-thickness skin graft was performed to repair the necrotic zone of the neck.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of VAC can be a valuable alternative to conventional dressings and hyperbaric oxygen therapy in poorly equipped conditions. Public awareness campaigns remain the most effective form of prevention against these odontogenic infections.
authors.affiliation: Service d'ORL et de Chirurgie Cervico-Maxillo-faciale, CHU Sylvanus Olympio, 08 BP 8146 Lomé, Togo; Service d'Odontostomatologie et de Chirurgie Maxillo-faciale, CHU Sylvanus Olympio, Lomé, Togo. Electronic address: saliou.adam1@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Adam
authors.affiliation: Service d'anesthésie réanimation, CHU Sylvanus Olympio, Lomé, Togo.
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Sama
authors.affiliation: Stomatologie-Chirurgie Maxillo-Faciale & Orale CHU de Marseille, Hôpital de la Conception, 147 boulevard Baille, 13385 Marseille cedex 5, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chossegros
authors.affiliation: Service d'Odontostomatologie et de Chirurgie Maxillo-faciale, CHU Sylvanus Olympio, Lomé, Togo.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Bouassalo
authors.affiliation: Service de Chirurgie traumatologique et d'Orthopédie, CHU Sylvanus Olympio, Lomé, Togo.
authors.forename: M Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Akpoto
authors.affiliation: Service d'ORL et de Chirurgie Cervico-Maxillo-faciale, CHU Sylvanus Olympio, 08 BP 8146 Lomé, Togo.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kpemissi
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000628:therapy; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D004865:Equipment and Supplies, Hospital / Q000191:economics; D006295:Health Resources; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck / Q000601:surgery*; D054843:Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D011203:Poverty; D018805:Sepsis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D014945:Wound Healing
keywords: Dental decay; Drainage; Infection; Neck; Vacuum-Assisted Closure