Management of cervicofacial necrotizing fasciitis

ABSTRACT

Necrotizing fasciitis is a rapidly progressive soft tissue infection with high mortality rates, characterized by diffuse necrosis of fascia and subcutaneous tissue. It most commonly affects the abdominal wall, the perineum and the extremities, but head and neck involvement can occur. Patients often have an underlying systemic disease such as diabetes mellitus, alcoholism, malnutrition or chronic renal failure. Successful management of this life-threatening condition requires early diagnosis, prompt institution of broad spectrum antibiotics and aggressive surgical intervention combined with supportive care such as airway maintenance and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. We reviewed cervicofacial necrotizing fasciitis in Korea with our cases, and pathophysilogy, diagnosis and treatment of this potentially lethal entity were investigated.