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Published on: January 22, 2010
Endoscopic sphenoid sinus drainage in Lemierre syndrome
E Golan1, K Wong2, H Alahmadi3
1Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care and Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, 399 Bathurst Street, 2 McLaughlin 411P, Toronto, ON Canada M5T 2S8; Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Summary
Lemierre syndrome, a rare infection, can cause serious intracranial issues. Endoscopic sinus drainage may aid antimicrobial therapy in controlling these severe complications.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Infectious Diseases
- Neurology
Background:
- Lemierre syndrome is a rare condition characterized by oropharyngeal infection leading to septic thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein and septic embolization.
- Intracranial complications, though rare, are severe and include subdural empyema, cavernous sinus thrombosis, and internal carotid artery aneurysms.
Observation:
- A patient with Lemierre syndrome presented with multiple intracranial complications despite receiving aggressive antimicrobial therapy.
Findings:
- The patient's condition necessitated transsphenoidal endoscopic drainage of the sphenoid sinus to eliminate the infectious source.
- This case highlights the potential for severe intracranial involvement in Lemierre syndrome.
Implications:
- Endoscopic sinus drainage may serve as a valuable adjunct to antimicrobial therapy for infection control in Lemierre syndrome patients with concurrent paranasal sinus infections.
- This approach could improve outcomes for patients with complex Lemierre syndrome presentations.
