[Report of 16 cases of Ludwig's angina: 5-year review]. / Informe de 16 casos de angina de Ludwig: revisión de cinco años.

Ludwig's angina es a bilateral gangrenous induration of the connective tissues of the neck and floor of the mouth. It causes rapid airway obstruction and affects the submandibular, sublingual and submental spaces. The main causes of infection are usually the second and third molars. In severe or difficult cases, an early surgical procedure is often necessary. According to our experience on this entity, as gathered in five years (16 cases), the process has a dental origin. Two deaths were reported. Most cases were treated with crystalline penicillin G, metronidazole, dicloxacillin or amykacin; tracheotomy was performed on 12 patients, four other cases were treated with controlled breathing. The authors suggest antibiotic therapy, early surgery when needed, with a careful monitoring of airway symptoms to lessen the need of tracheotomy and reduce the death rate. Ludwig's angina should by no means go unnoticed in its early stages; early diagnosis should always be considered.

[Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in pediatric patients]. / El síndrome de inmunodeficiencia adquirida en el paciente pediátrico.

The object of this study was to determine how many of the patients treated at the Pediatric Odontology Clinic, a branch of the Maxillo-Facial Surgery Service at the Veinte de Noviembre Regional Hospital, ISSSTE, are VIH-positive of show serious manifestations of Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). For such purpose, 100 pediatric patients suffering from different systemic or local diseases were evaluated, the most common being hematological alterations. Results evidenced the presence of VIH in the blood of five of the pediatric subjects, all suffering from Hemophilia.

[Incidence of oral cancer in AIDS patients at the "20 de Noviembre" Regional Hospital, ISSSTE]. / Incidencia de cáncer oral en pacientes con SIDA en el Hospital Regional "20 de Noviembre", ISSSTE.

Ever since its initial outbursts in high-risk groups, AIDS has had an appalling impact within the oncological sphere, since it combines opportunistic pathologies with the occurrence of malignancies caused by loss of defensive cells, thus allowing abnormal or cancerous cells to multiply. This paper conveys some recent concepts on AIDS, as well as a study undertaken at the "20 de Noviembre" Hospital, aimed at identifying the most common opportunistic diseases which often occur in the oral cavity upon contracting AIDS.

[Current use of miniplates in maxillofacial surgery. Review of the literature]. / Uso actual de las miniplaces en cirugía maxilofacial. Revisión de la literatura.

Some of the European countries have advocated the use of monocortical screw miniplates for osteosynthesis in the craniofacial areas and there are several advantages over the wired osteosynthesis. The advantages and different applications of the miniplates in maxillofacial surgery are presented.