ABSTRACT
RESUMEN Antecedentes: los pacientes con infecciones cervicales pueden presentar cuadros de extrema gravedad que ponen en riesgo su vida. Parece increíble que en pleno siglo XXI alguien muera por la infección de una muela, pero es real. Objetivo: describir los resultados con el diagnóstico y tratamiento de una serie de pacientes con infecciones de los espacios profundos del cuello de origen dentario, y establecer criterios para su manejo. Material y métodos: se realizó un estudio descriptivo y retrospectivo a partir de los registros en nuestra base datos entre septiembre de 2006 y junio de 2022. Se incluyeron sólo pacientes con infecciones cervicales de origen dentario. Se evaluaron las variables demográficas, las relacionadas al origen de la complicación, el tratamiento realizado y la evolución de los pacientes. Resultados: la muestra quedó conformada por 499 pacientes, con promedio de edad de 29 años (12- 70); 288 (57.7%) eran hombres. Consultaron en forma tardía 269 (53,9%) y se automedicaron en forma inicial 271 pacientes (54.3%). La mayoría no había recibido tratamiento de la pieza dentaria en el centro de atención primaria. Se realizó tratamiento quirúrgico 267 casos (53.5%), y el resto pudo tratarse de forma conservadora. La evolución fue favorable en 497 pacientes (99.6 %), y dos fallecieron por mediastinitis. Conclusión: las infecciones odontógenas deben ser diagnosticadas y tratadas apropiadamente en forma precoz a fin de evitar cuadros de extrema gravedad. Las campañas de educación poblacional y la instrucción de los médicos/odontólogos de centros de atención primaria y servicios de guardia podría mejorar esta problemática.
ABSTRACT Background: Patients with deep infections may present with extremely serious and life-threatening conditions. It is unbelievable that someone could die from a molar infection in the 21st century, but it is real. Objective: The aim of the present study is to describe the diagnosis and treatment results of a series of patients with odontogenic deep neck infections, and to establish criteria for the management of these infections. Material and methods: We conducted a retrospective and descriptive study based on records from a database from September 2006 to June 2022. Only patients with odontogenic deep neck infections were included. The demographic variables, those related to the origin of the complication, the treatment performed, and the patients' progress were evaluated. Results: The sample was made up of 499 patients; mean age was 29 years (12-70) and 288 (57.7%) were men. Late visits and self-medication were recorded in 269 patients (53.9%) and 271 patients (54.3%), respectively. Most of them had not received treatment for the affected tooth at the primary healthcare center. Surgical treatment was performed in 267 cases (53.5%), and the rest were managed with conservative approach. The disease had a favorable course in 497 patients (99.6%) and two patients died of mediastinitis. Conclusion: Odontogenic infections should be adequately diagnosed and treated correctly and early to avoid extremely serious complications. Population-based educational campaigns and training for physicians and dentists working in primary care centers and emergency departments could improve this issue.
ABSTRACT
Resumen La mononucleosis infecciosa (MI) es un cuadro clínico generalmente benigno y autolimitado en la infancia y adolescencia debido a la primoinfección del virus de Epstein-Barr caracterizado por la triada de faringitis, fiebre y adenopatías. El riesgo de complicaciones aumenta con la edad y la inmunosupresión, siendo las complicaciones letales más frecuentes las asociadas a rotura esplénica, alteraciones neurológicas y obstrucción de la vía aérea por el aumento del tamaño amigdalar. Los abscesos cervicales asociados a MI son poco frecuentes, siendo mayoritariamente periamigdalinos e intraamigdalares. Presentamos dos casos quirúrgicos de abscesos cervicales profundos de gran tamaño con afectación retrofaríngea y parafaríngea en adolescentes sanos de corta edad (14 y 15 años), sin ningún tipo de inmunosupresión o factores de riesgo, uno de ellos asociado además, a una relevante hemorragia amigdalar espontanea, condición no descrita previamente en la literatura en relación a MI en un paciente tan joven.
Abstract Infectious mononucleosis (MI) is a generally benign and self-limited condition in childhood and adolescence due to the primary EBV infection characterized by the triad of pharyngitis, fever, and lymphadenopathies. The risk of complications increases with age and immunosuppression. The most frequent fatal complications are those associated with splenic rupture, neurological alterations, and airway obstruction due to increased tonsillar size. Cervical abscesses associated with MI are rare, being mostly peritonsillar and intra-tonsil. We present two surgical cases of big deep cervical abscesses with retropharyngeal and parapharyngeal involvement in healthy very young adolescents (14 and 15 years old), without any type of immunosuppression or risk factors, one of them associated with a clinically relevant spontaneous tonsillar bleeding, which had not been described in the literature associated with MI in such young patient.
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Adolescent , Peritonsillar Abscess/complications , Peritonsillar Abscess/therapy , Infectious Mononucleosis/complications , Infectious Mononucleosis/therapy , Pharyngitis/etiology , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Peritonsillar Abscess/diagnostic imaging , Fever/etiology , Hemorrhage/etiology , Infectious Mononucleosis/diagnostic imagingABSTRACT
Anterior cervical discectomy has a low non-mechanical complication rate. In our literature review, we found 7 cases of delayed surgical site infection. We report a case of cervical prevertebral abscess due to Propionibacterium acnes 2 years after discectomy and arthroplasty, with a beta-2-transferrin false positive test as a complementary highlighted finding. We discuss the diagnosis and etiology of this rare delayed infectious complication.
Subject(s)
Abscess/diagnostic imaging , Arthroplasty , Cervical Vertebrae/surgery , Diskectomy , Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections/diagnostic imaging , Intervertebral Disc Displacement/surgery , Propionibacterium acnes , Spinal Fusion , Surgical Wound Infection/diagnostic imaging , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Time FactorsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Thyroid abscess or acute suppurative thyroiditis is an unusual clinical condition. We present our experience with cases attended over 41 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was performed on these patients reviewing their epidemiological characteristics and the diagnostic and therapeutic manoeuvres chosen for them all, as well as their clinical outcome. A group of 9 males and 5 females was studied, with ages ranging from 19 to 68 (mean of 40.6±15.4). These patients suffered 22 acute episodes, and 2 patients each had 4 episodes. RESULTS: Suppurative thyroiditis comprised 0.29% of the neck abscesses. Fine needle aspiration was performed in 13 cases to evacuate the collection and isolate the aetiological agent. Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Staphylococcus aureus were the most frequently identified. Nine patients underwent ultrasound and 7 computed tomography imaging studies. Surgery was the option for 10 patients, including drainage for 7, thyroidectomy for 4 and hemithyroidectomy for the remaining 2. Systemic or intralesional antibiotics and sclerosis of the gland were also carried out. Although one case presented with hyperthyroidism and thyrotoxicosis in the acute phase, definitive hypothyroidism was observed in 5 patients at 6 months following discharge. The rate of success was 100%. CONCLUSION: Thyroid gland suppuration is a very infrequent circumstance in neck pathology, and the options for its treatment are varied, from conservative to invasive techniques according to the microbial and radiologic findings.
Subject(s)
Abscess , Thyroid Diseases , Thyroiditis, Suppurative , Abscess/diagnosis , Abscess/epidemiology , Abscess/microbiology , Abscess/therapy , Acute Disease , Adult , Aged , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Drainage , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies , Therapeutic Irrigation , Thyroid Diseases/diagnosis , Thyroid Diseases/epidemiology , Thyroid Diseases/microbiology , Thyroid Diseases/therapy , Thyroidectomy , Thyroiditis, Suppurative/diagnosis , Thyroiditis, Suppurative/epidemiology , Thyroiditis, Suppurative/microbiology , Thyroiditis, Suppurative/therapy , Young AdultABSTRACT
Los abscesos retro y parafaríngeos son procesos infrecuentes aunque asociados con morbilidad significativa y potencial mortalidad. En los últimos años, se ha detectado un aumento de incidencia de estas infecciones, que se debe, principalmente, a una mayor disponibilidad de la tomografía computada y a mayor virulencia de los gérmenes (Streptococcus beta hemolítico del grupo A y Staphilococcus aureus meticilino resistente). Predominan en menores de 5 años. El tratamiento de los abscesos retro y parafaríngeos consiste en antibiótico endovenoso y, eventualmente, drenaje quirúrgico. Serían pasibles de tratamiento quirúrgico aquellos pacientes con abscesos mayores de 2 cm³, con dificultad respiratoria o mala respuesta al tratamiento antibiótico inicial. El objetivo de este reporte es presentar las características clínicas y el tratamiento de tres pacientes con abscesos profundos de cuello que se presentaron en Otorrinolaringología del Hospital de Niños Pedro de Elizalde en el período de un año.
Retropharyngeal and parapharyngeal abscesses are rare but associated with significant morbidity and potential mortality. In recent years, there has been an increase in the incidence of these infections, mainly due to a greater availability of computed tomography scan and a greater virulence of the germs (Group A b-hemolytic Streptococcus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). They predominate in children younger than 5 years. Treatment of retropharyngeal and parapharyngeal abscesses consists of an intravenous antibiotic and eventually surgical drainage. Surgical treatment is indicated in patients with abscesses greater than 2 cm³, with respiratory difficulty or poor response to initial antibiotic treatment. The aim of this study is to describe clinical features and treatment of three cases of deep neck abscesses presented at Hospital de Niños Pedro de Elizalde, Otorhinolaryngology Department in the period of one year.
