A Rare Cause of Neck Swelling: Ludwig’s Angina

Abstract

Ludwig’s Angina is a rare complication of periodontal infection that can result in severe upper airway obstruction and potentially death. A 22-year-old male presented to the emergency department of a public hospital with fever, chills, left-sided neck pain and swelling. The left submandibular area was indurated with palpable crepitus. Computed tomography showed the extension to deep neck spaces. The patient was treated with ampicillin-sulbactam, metronidazole and analgesics. He was tansported to a tertiary medical center for definitive care. Ludwig’s angina is a potentially lethal disease. We believe that many emergency departments have limited experience of the disease because of its rare occurrence. In addition, technical opportunities and early surgery capacity of the emergency room have an effect on survey. Management should contain early diagnosis and the immediate aggressive medical approach. Securing and maintaining the airway is the primary goal in all patients presenting with Ludwig’s Angina

Keywords

• Ludwig’s Angina, neck swelling, upper airway obstruction

Boyunda Şişliğin Nadir Bir Sebebi: Ludwig Anjini

Abstract

Ludwig Anjini, periodontal enfeksiyonların nadir bir komplikasyonu olan, üst hava yolu tıkanıklığı ve ölümle sonuçlanabilecek bir hastalıktır. Yirmi iki yaşında erkek hasta devlet hastanesinin acil servisine boynunun sol kısmında şişlik, ağrı, ateş ve titreme şikayeti ile başvurdu. Hastanın sol submandibular bölgesinde krepitasyon veren şişlik mevcuttu. Bilgisayarlı tomografide derin boyun boşluklarındaki yumuşak dokularda genişleme tespit edildi. Hastaya parenteral ampisilin-sulbaktam, metronidazol ve aneljezik verildi. Genel durumu stabil olan hasta ileri tedavi için 3. basamak sağlık hizmeti veren merkeze nakledildi. Ludwig Anjini, ölümcül bir hastalıktır. Acil servislerde nadir rastlanan bir hastalık olduğu için bu hastalıkla ilgili deneyimlerin sınırlı olduğunu düşünüyoruz. Buna ilaveten acil servislerin teknik imkanları ve erken cerrahi olanaklarının sağ kalımda etkili olduğuna inanıyoruz. Hastalığın yönetiminde erken tanı ve erken agresif tedavi esastır. Daha da önemlisi hava yolunun sağlanması bu hastalarda öncelikli hedef olmalıdır

Keywords

• Ludwig Anjini, boyunda şişlik, üst hava yolu tıkanıklığı

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