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Case Report
Lemierre's syndrome, a rare and dangerous condition
1 Department of Surgery, Division of Head and Neck, Hospital Eugenio Espejo, Quito, Ecuador
2 Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Department of Surgery, Quito, Ecuador
3 Universidad Central del Ecuador, Department of Surgery, Quito, Ecuador
4 Universidad de lasAméricas, Department of Surgery, Quito, Ecuador
5 PGY2 Resident General Surgery, P.U.C.E, Quito, Ecuador
6 PGY4 Resident General Surgery, P.U.C.E, Quito, Ecuador
Address correspondence to:
Gabriel A Molina
PGY4 Resident General Surgery, P.U.C.E, Quito,
Ecuador
Message to Corresponding Author
Article ID: 100039S05CG2019
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How to cite this article
García CR, Jaramillo KL, Arroyo KA, Muñoz CA, Camacho RB, Pinto PE, Ayala JM, Molina GA. Lemierre’s syndrome, a rare and dangerous condition. Edorium J Surg 2019;6:100039S05CG2019.ABSTRACT
Introduction: Lemierre’s syndrome is a rare and dangerous condition, it usually happens due to the extension of an oropharyngeal infection toward the parapharyngeal space and into the internal jugular vein. This event causes disseminated septic embolism that can be lethal if left untreated. Due to the availability of broad-spectrum antibiotics, its incidence has dramatically decreased in the last few years. Early signs and symptoms are usually vague and a high index of suspicion is required to overcome its morbidity and mortality.
Case Report: We present a case of a 17-year-old male patient, after suffering trauma to his neck, a skin infection appeared that led to cellulitis, abscess, and ultimately internal jugular vein thrombophlebitis. After surgery and antibiotic treatment, the patient recovered successfully.
Conclusion: A high index of suspicion is fundamental in the diagnosis of Lemierre’s syndrome as outcomes are markedly improved when a fast diagnosis is made. Treatment should not be delayed in these severe infections as its complications can cause severe burdens if left untreated.
Keywords: Internal jugular vein, Lemierre’s syndrome, Neck
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
Author Contributions:
Cristhian R García - Substantial contributions to conception and design, Drafting the article, Final approval of the version to be published
Katherine Lissette Jaramillo - Substantial contributions to conception and design, Drafting the article, Final approval of the version to be published
Kevin Andres Arroyo - Substantial contributions to conception and design, Acquisition of data, Drafting the article, Final approval of the version to be published
Carmina Alejandra Muñoz - Analysis of data, Interpretation of data, Drafting the article, Final approval of the version to be published
Byron Rodrigo Camacho - Substantial contributions to conception and design, Interpretation of data, Revising it critically for important intellectual content, Final approval of the version to be published
Andrés Esteban Pinto - Substantial contributions to conception and design, Interpretation of data, Drafting the article, Final approval of the version to be published
Jonathan M Ayala - Interpretation of data, Drafting the article, Final approval of the version to be published
Gabriel A Molina - Interpretation of data, Drafting the article, Final approval of the version to be published
Source of SupportNone
Consent StatementWritten informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this article.
Data AvailabilityAll relevant data are within the paper and its Supporting Information files.
Conflict of InterestAuthors declare no conflict of interest.
Copyright© 2019 Cristhian R GarcÃa et al. This article is distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium provided the original author(s) and original publisher are properly credited. Please see the copyright policy on the journal website for more information.
