Table 2.

Complications of deep neck space infections

Complicationa	No. patients (n = 277)	%
Necrotizing fasciitis	18	6.5
Pneumonia	16	5.8
Sepsis (blood culture positive)	13	4.7
Mediastinitis	12	4.3
Neural damage	12	4.3
Internal jugular vein thrombosis	6	2.2
Total airway obstruction	4	1.4
Death	4	1.4
Orocutaneus fistula	3	1.1
Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)	2	0.7
Iatrogenic tracheal stenosis	2	0.7
Delirium	1	0.4
Pulmonary embolism	1	0.4

^a18 (6.5%) patients had multiple complications