Comparative Study of Multifunctional Irrigation-assisted Vacuum Drainage, Vacuum Sealing Drainage and the Penrose Drain in Treating Severe Multi-space Deep Fascial Infection in the Head and Neck.

BACKGROUND

We aimed to compare multifunctional irrigation-assisted vacuum drainage (MIVD), vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) and the Penrose drain in treating severe multi-space deep fascial infection (DFI) in head and neck.

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted on 113 patients who had suffered from severe multi-space DFI in head and neck and underwent surgical treatment. Patients were divided into the MIVD group, the VSD group, and the Penrose group according to their treatment. Baseline characteristics and clinical outcome data regarding infection control, clinicians' workload, surgical procedure required, and cost were analyzed.

RESULTS

Duration of antibiotic administration was significantly shorter using MIVD and VSD than Penrose drains (p = 0.002 with MIVD, p = 0.008 with VSD). Hospital stay in the MIVD group was shorter than the Penrose group (p = 0.034). Compared to the other two groups, more times of manual irrigation were needed in higher frequency in the Penrose group (p < 0.001). Longer Incision and more surgical operation were required in the VSD group than the other two groups (p < 0.001). The treatment cost in the VSD group was higher than the MIVD group (p = 0.045) and the Penrose group (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

In the treatment of severe multi-space DFI in head and neck, MIVD and VSD are superior to the Penrose drain in infection control and reduction in clinicians' workload. Meanwhile, MIVD, with fewer surgical procedures required and less cost, seems to be a more promising method than VSD.