[Deep neck abscess. Factors related to reoperation and mortality]

Deep neck abscesses are major complications that arise of odontogenic, pharyngeal, or cervicofacial foci, mainly in patients with morbidities that facilitate the spread to other spaces. Many of them require surgical treatment, and an appropriate evaluation and surgical drainage is required to obtain the best results.

To identify factors which relate to reoperation and mortality in patient submitted to surgical treatment due to deep neck abscess.

Review of all patients with deep neck abscess who underwent surgical treatment in a Head and Neck Surgery Department in a third-level hospital during a two year period.

There were 87 patients, 44 of which were female. The median age was 49 years old. Thirty-five patients (40%) had comorbidities, diabetes mellitus being the most common, found in 30 (34%) patients. Twenty-one patients (24%) required reoperation (primarily due to inadequate surgical drainage). The risk factors identified with it were presence of comorbidities (mainly diabetes mellitus) (p< 0.05), multiple deep neck spaces involvement (p< 0.001) and an ASA score of three or above (p< 0.01). Eight patients died, for a mortality of 9%. The factors related to mortality were multiple deep neck spaces involvement (p< 0.01), bilateral involvement (p< 0.05) and reoperation (p< 0.001).

Deep neck abscesses appropriate evaluation and a complete surgical drainage of all deep space neck abscesses are primordial to avoid reoperation and improve survival.