[Rare complications of soft tissue infections in the head and neck area: deep neck phlegmona, thrombophlebitis and mediastinitis with pericardial effusion].

Cervical phlegmona is a rare occurrence associated with infections of the ENT region. Spreading of the infection can cause thrombophlebitis, mediastinitis and cardiac tamponade. Three recently treated patients are reported who showed serious complications due to harmless primary infections of the oral cavity, oropharynx or throat. The clinical course of the diseases with the sometimes difficult examinations undertaken and the performed treatment are outlined. Computed tomography and radiography of the lung were useful in confirming the diagnosis, establishing that the infection had spread into deep neck spaces and into the mediastinum. Surgical therapy including extensive surgical drainage of the deep neck spaces and of the mediastinum, multiple antibiotic therapy, and intensive care, resulted in survival of the patients.