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Severe Soft Tissue Infections of the Head and Neck: A Primer for Critical Care Physicians

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Abstract

Patients with severe infections of the potential spaces of the head and neck are commonly managed in the ICU. These infections may present with devastating complications such as airway obstruction, jugular septic thrombophlebitis, lung abscess, upper airway abscess rupture with asphyxiation, mediastinitis, pericarditis, and septic shock. A thorough understanding of the anatomy and microbiology of these infections is essential for proper management of these patients. Retropharyngeal, danger, prevertebral, lateral pharyngeal, and submandibular space infections and their site-specific clinical manifestations, complications, and therapeutic interventions are discussed.

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Acknowledgment

Thanks to Dr. Peter Phillips, MD, and Dr. Tim Lau, PhD, for their thoughtful feedback and suggestions after reviewing the initial manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Critical Care, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Steven C. Reynolds

  2. Division of Infectious Diseases, St. Paul’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Steven C. Reynolds

  3. Intensive Care Unit, Royal Columbian Hospital, 330 East Columbia Street, New Westminster, BC, V3L 3W7, Canada

    Steven C. Reynolds

  4. Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Steven C. Reynolds & Anthony W. Chow

  5. Division of Infectious Diseases, Vancouver Hospital, 769 Burley Place, West Vancouver, BC, V7T 2A2, Canada

    Anthony W. Chow

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Correspondence to Steven C. Reynolds.

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Reynolds, S.C., Chow, A.W. Severe Soft Tissue Infections of the Head and Neck: A Primer for Critical Care Physicians. Lung 187, 271–279 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-009-9153-7

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