Presentation and management of deep neck space abscess

Objective: To study the presentation, etiology, microbiology and morbidity of deep neck space infections. Study Design: Retrospective study. Methods: 29 patients admitted in Kasturba Medical College Hospital, Mangalore, India between January 1997 and December 2002 with deep neck space infections were included in the study. Results: The most common space involved was the parapharyngeal space.No specific etiology was determined in 38%; an odontogenic cause was discovered in 28% of the patients; tonsillar/pharyngeal infections in 24% of patients and foreign body impaction in 7% of cases. The main morbidity was due to mediastinitis (5 patients). 1 patient succumbed to the disease. Mixed flora with aerobic and anaerobic infections was identified in most of the cases.