eMedicine Specialties > Otolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery > Bronchoesophagology

Deep Neck Infections: Follow-up

Author: Alan D Murray, MD, Pediatric Otolaryngologist, ENT for Children; Full-Time Staff, Medical City Dallas Children's Hospital; Consulting Staff, Department of Otolaryngology, Medical Center of Lewisville, Children's Medical Center at Dallas, Cook Children's Medical Center; Full-Time Staff, Texas Pediatric Surgery Center, The Pediatric Surgery Center
Coauthor(s): Michelle C Marcincuk, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center; Consulting Staff, Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology, Texas Health Care, PLLC
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Nov 18, 2009

Outcome and Prognosis

Patients treated for deep neck infections can be expected to fully recover as long as the infection is treated properly and in a timely manner. Patients whose treatment is delayed can expect a greater number of complications and a prolonged course of recovery. Once a deep neck infection has fully resolved, no particular predisposition exists for recurrence.

Future and Controversies

The greatest controversy regarding deep neck infections concerns whether all deep neck abscesses require surgical treatment or whether some abscesses can be treated medically. As previously discussed, articles by Broughton and Lalakea and Messner suggest that in selected cases involving patients with no signs of respiratory distress or other impending complications, some small deep neck abscesses can be treated with a trial of IV antibiotics alone, particularly in children.12,7 Surgical therapy can be reserved for patients whose symptoms do not respond within 48 hours. However, this issue is still being debated in the literature, and clinical judgment must be used with each individual patient.

 


More on Deep Neck Infections

Overview: Deep Neck Infections
Workup: Deep Neck Infections
Treatment: Deep Neck Infections
Follow-up: Deep Neck Infections
Multimedia: Deep Neck Infections
References
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References

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Further Reading

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Keywords

deep neck infection, deep neck infections, deep neck space infections, deep neck abscess, parapharyngeal space, lateral pharyngeal space, pharyngomaxillary space, pterygomaxillary space, pterygopharyngeal space

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Alan D Murray, MD, Pediatric Otolaryngologist, ENT for Children; Full-Time Staff, Medical City Dallas Children's Hospital; Consulting Staff, Department of Otolaryngology, Medical Center of Lewisville, Children's Medical Center at Dallas, Cook Children's Medical Center; Full-Time Staff, Texas Pediatric Surgery Center, The Pediatric Surgery Center
Alan D Murray, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Surgeons, American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Society for Ear, Nose and Throat Advances in Children, and Texas Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Michelle C Marcincuk, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center; Consulting Staff, Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology, Texas Health Care, PLLC
Michelle C Marcincuk, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American Medical Association, Texas Medical Association, and Triological Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Ted L Tewfik, MD, FRCS(C), Professor, Department of Otolaryngology, Director of Continuing Medical Education of Otolaryngology, McGill University Medical School; Director, Director of Professional Affairs of Otolaryngology, Department of Otolaryngology, Montreal Children's Hospital; Senior Staff, Montreal General Hospital and Royal Victoria Hospital
Ted L Tewfik, MD, FRCS(C) is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American College of Surgeons, American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Society of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Quebec Medical Association, and Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: eMedicine Salary Employment

Managing Editor

Stephen G Batuello, MD, Consulting Staff, Colorado ENT Specialists
Stephen G Batuello, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American College of Physician Executives, American Medical Association, and Colorado Medical Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Christopher L Slack, MD, Otolaryngology-Facial Plastic Surgery, Private Practice, Associated Coastal ENT; Medical Director, Treasure Coast Sleep Disorders
Christopher L Slack, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and American Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Arlen D Meyers, MD, MBA, Professor, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine
Arlen D Meyers, MD, MBA is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and American Head and Neck Society
Disclosure: Covidien Corp Consulting fee Consulting; US Tobacco Corporation unstricted gift unknown; Axis Three Corporation Ownership interest Consulting; Omni Biosciences Ownership interest Consulting; Sentegra Ownership interest Board membership; Syndicom Ownership interest Consulting; Oxlo  Consulting; Medvoy Ownership interest Management position

 
 
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