| Summary: | Deep neck infection is a potentially life-threatening disease, especially complicated with
descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM). The mean age of DNM is 49–57.8 years
old. The commonly seen causes are tonsillar, pharyngeal infection and odontogenic origins. When the deep neck infection extended to the mediastinal spaces, the pleural
effusion or pericardial effusion may appear. Here is a rare young lady who had fever and
sore throat for 2 weeks, and chest X-ray showed bilateral pleural effusion. After surgical
drainage, the Escherichia coli grew over the culture of pericardial effusion. This case is
rarely seen in the presence of Escherichia coli pyopericardium originating from DNM in
the past. Overall mortality rate of DNM is around 11.2%–17% nowadays. We should
keep in mind that for DNM, early diagnosis and aggressively surgical intervention with
suitable drainage, and intensive postoperative care should be conducted to lower the
morbidity and mortality.
|
|---|