Rare Angina: A Case Report of Ludwig's Angina

Ludwig’s angina is the rapidly progressive cellulitis of the soft tissue of the neck and the floor of the mouth. Airway compromise is a frequent and potentially fatal sequela of Ludwig’s angina. Here we present a case of a 54-year-old African American male who presented with fever associated with painful swelling of the mouth and anterior neck. He was febrile and hypoxic on presentation. Imaging showed extensive involvement of the neck and mediastinum to the level of the clavicles. The diagnosis of Ludwig’s angina of periodontal origin was made, and intubation was performed for airway protection. Management was done by surgical debridement along with a course of broad-spectrum antibiotics. The patient’s condition improved, and he was discharged on oral antibiotics with a referral to a dentist. Our case demonstrates that early diagnosis, airway management, treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics, and surgical intervention are vital for the successful management of severe cases of Ludwig’s angina.