Clinical predictors of descending necrotizing mediastinitis after deep neck infections

Objectives/Hypothesis To identify the clinical predictors of descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) secondary to deep neck infections (DNIs) before treatment. Study Design Retrospective case series. Methods We reviewed 73 patients with DNIs who had been treated with external drainage at our institute between April 2009 and March 2019. We divided these patients into either a DNI group without mediastinitis (n = 55) or a DNM group secondary to DNI (n = 18). We collected clinical data and compared them between the groups, conducting univariate and multiple logistic regression analysis to identify the predictors of DNM. Results We identified age, C‐reactive protein (CRP), neutrophil percentage, lymphocyte percentage, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), presence of comorbidities, presence of gas, and abscess extension below the hyoid bone as statistically significant by univariate analysis. Moreover, multiple logistic regression analysis showed that age ≥55 years, NLR ≥13, and CRP ≥30 mg/dL were statistically significant. Conclusions We identified age ≥55, NLR ≥13, and CRP ≥30 before DNI treatment as clinical predictors of a DNM complication. Level of Evidence 4 Laryngoscope , 130:E567–E572, 2020