Severe deep neck infections successfully treated with negative pressure wound therapy with instillation - a case report

Abstract

Background: Deep neck infection (DNI) is a life-threatening complication associated with significant mortality and morbidity rates. The most common causes of DNI are the tonsilitis, dentitis, salivary glands inflammation, malignancies, and foreign bodies. As a result of neck infection, patients are at high risk of potential secondary complications which include: descending mediastinitis, pleural empyema, septicemia, jugular vein thrombosis, pericarditis. We presented a case of successful management of DNI with the utility of negative pressure wound therapy with instillation (iNPWT).

Method: A 37-year-old male with deep neck infection due to dentitis was qualified for iNPWT. Due to previous incisions and drainage of the neck abscesses, some undermined wounds drained towards each other’s were revealed with an excessive amount of purulent content. Standard NPWT dressing was placed and polyurethane foam was covered with contact layer dressing. Additionally, an inflow drain was placed within one of the wounds in regard to instill an antimicrobial solution. The wound was instilled four times daily.

Results: The patient underwent a total of eight iNWPT sessions. Locally, a reduction in purulent content was achieved with a decrease of wounds’ dimensions and improvement of wound bed granulation. Moreover, improvement of the patient’s general condition and decrease of inflammatory markers was achieved.

Conclusions: iNPWT may play an important role in the management of combined, complicated wounds due to DNI. The instilled antimicrobial solution facilitates dissolving and removing of the purulent content that impairs the wound healing.