Innovative continuous-irrigation approach for wound care after deep neck infection surgery: A case report

INTRODUCTION: Deep neck infection is a life-threatening disease that invades deep neck space and potentially causes airway obstruction. Treatment for deep neck infection consists of antibiotic administration and surgical drainage with manually postoperative wound irrigation. We herein present a case in which an innovative continuous-irrigation approach was applied for wound care following surgical drainage. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 65-year-old woman presented with neck swelling and fever for 5 days. Computed tomography of the head and neck revealed a deep neck infection with abscess formation. The patient underwent surgical incision and drainage of the deep neck abscess. We employed an innovative continuous-irrigation approach for wound care after surgery using a double-lumen tube consisting of an inlet tube and an outlet tube. Saline water was continuously injected through the irrigation tube and suctioned from the draining tube. After 5 days of intensive irrigation, wound swelling and discharge was considerably reduced, and the wound had been closed. DISCUSSION: This patient with deep neck infection was successfully treated using an innovative continuous-irrigation approach for wound care after surgery. This approach exhibited several advantages. First, compared with intermittently manual irrigation, a continuous-irrigation device can more effectively keep a wound clean. Second, the automated design of this device can reduce the workload for clinical staff. Third, our device does not require expensive materials or complex technology. CONCLUSION: This innovative continuous-irrigation approach is an alternative approach for wound care in patients with deep neck infection.