Wills P I, Vernon R P
Laryngoscope. 1981 Jul;91(7):1129-36. doi: 10.1288/00005537-198107000-00010.
Life threatening infections of odontogenic or upper airway origin may extend to potential spaces formed by fascial planes of the lower head and upper cervical area. The incidence of these "space infections" has been greatly reduced by modern antibiotic therapy. However, serious morbidity and even fatalities continue to occur. Two cases of deep neck infection, (one of odontogenic and one tonsillar in origin) with subsequent mediastinitis, empyema, pericarditis and ultimate survival are reported. One case of deep neck infection, (of odontogenic etiology) and suppurative thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein with ultimate fatal outcome is also reviewed. Review of the literature reveals only one previous case report of a survivor of an odontogenic deep neck infection complicated by mediastinitis, empyema and pericarditis. The anatomy, etiology and treatment of complications of these "space infections" of the head and neck are briefly reviewed.
源自牙源性或上呼吸道的危及生命的感染可能会蔓延至由头下部和上颈部筋膜平面形成的潜在间隙。现代抗生素疗法已大大降低了这些“间隙感染”的发生率。然而，严重的发病情况甚至死亡仍在继续发生。本文报告了两例深部颈部感染病例（一例源自牙源性，一例源自扁桃体），随后出现纵隔炎、脓胸、心包炎并最终存活。还回顾了一例深部颈部感染病例（牙源性病因）及颈内静脉化脓性血栓静脉炎，最终导致死亡的情况。文献回顾显示，之前仅有一例牙源性深部颈部感染并发纵隔炎、脓胸和心包炎后存活的病例报告。本文对头颈部这些“间隙感染”并发症的解剖结构、病因及治疗进行了简要回顾。
