Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of pyogenic cavity aerobic therapy with negative pressure drainage in the treatment of deep neck space infections (DNSI). METHODS: The study was a prospective, observational analysis of 36 cases of DNSI at a tertiary care center. The patients were divided into two groups according to the treatment method. Group A was treated with pyogenic cavity aerobic therapy with negative pressure drainage and included 13 patients (6 males and 7 females), while group B was treated with traditional incision debridement drainage and included 23 patients (12 males and 11 females). The average hospitalization days and doctors' workload (ie, average days of postoperative dressing changes) were analyzed and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The mean hospitalization days in the traditional dressing group were 26.74 ± 3.39 days, while the average days of postoperative dressing change were 25.91 ± 3.43 days. In contrast, the averages for hospitalization days and days of postoperative dressing changes in the pyogenic cavity aerobic therapy plus negative pressure drainage were 11.08 ± 2.11 and 3.69 ± 0.21 days, respectively. All 36 patients were cured. Compared with the group B, group A had a shorter hospital stays and lower doctor workloads (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Pyogenic cavity aerobic therapy is an effective and simple method for changing dressings after DNSI. This therapy, when combined with negative pressure drainage, shortens hospitalization days and days that require a dressing change. This has reduced the workload of clinical doctors and pain experienced by patients. This therapy also has a high degree of safety and a very satisfactory curative effect.