Factors affecting the necessity of tracheostomy in patients with deep neck infection

Shih Lung Chen, Chi Kuang Young, Tsung You Tsai, Huei Tzu Chien, Chung Jan Kang, Chun Ta Liao, Shiang Fu Huang*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

Deep neck infection (DNI) is a serious disease that can lead to airway obstruction, and some patients require a tracheostomy to protect the airway instead of intubation. However, no previous study has explored risk factors associated with the need for a tracheostomy in patients with DNI. This article investigates the risk factors for the need for tracheostomy in patients with DNI. Between September 2016 and February 2020, 403 subjects with DNI were enrolled. Clinical findings and critical deep neck spaces associated with a need for tracheostomy in patients with DNI were assessed. In univariate and multivariate analysis, older age (≥65 years old) (OR = 2.450, 95% CI: 1.163–5.161, p = 0.018), multiple spaces involved (≥3 spaces) (OR = 4.490, 95% CI: 2.153–9.360, p = 0.001), and the presence of mediastinitis (OR = 14.800, 95% CI: 5.097–42.972, p < 0.001) were independent risk factors associated with tracheostomy in patients with DNI. Among the 44 patients with DNI that required tracheostomy, ≥50% of patients had involvement of the parapharyngeal or retropharyngeal space (72.72% and 50.00%, respectively). Streptococcus constellatus (25.00%) was the most common pathogen in patients with DNI who required tracheostomy. In conclusion, requiring a tracheostomy was associated with a severe clinical presentation of DNI. Older age (≥65 years old), multiple spaces (≥3 spaces), and presence of mediastinitis were significant risk factors associated with tracheostomy in patients with DNI. The parapharyngeal and retropharyngeal spaces were the most commonly involved, and Streptococcus constellatus was the most common pathogen in the patients with DNI that required tracheostomy.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1536
JournalDiagnostics
Volume11
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - 09 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Keywords

  • Deep neck infection
  • Parapharyngeal space
  • Retropharyngeal space
  • Streptococcus constellatus
  • Tracheostomy

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