Epidemiology and resource utilization of ludwig's angina ED visits in the United States 2006-2014.

Laryngoscope

Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, District of Columbia, U.S.A.

Published: September 2019

Objectives: Ludwig's angina is a potentially lethal submandibular space infection. We aim to describe the epidemiological characteristics of Ludwig's angina patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) and to examine outcomes and resource utilization to determine their burden on ED and hospitals.

Methods: Using the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample database, a nationally representative all-payer database, we retrospectively reviewed all ED visits between 2006 and 2014 for patients admitted with a primary diagnosis of Ludwig's angina (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, 528.3). We collected information including demographics, ED and inpatient charges, airway interventions, length of stay, and mortality.

Results: A total of 5,855 patients met our inclusion criteria. In our study population, the mean age was 44.5 years, with 54% males and 46% females. There were 75% insured and 25% uninsured. Overall median ED charges were $1,352 and median inpatient charges were $18,017.54, with a median length of stay of 3 days. As part of their management, 47.2% of the patients received a surgical drainage procedure, 3.3% required a surgical airway, and 4.6% required a nonsurgical airway. The overall mortality rate was 0.3%.

Conclusion: Ludwig's angina remains a rare and potentially life-threatening condition. The mortality rate appears to be decreased from previous historical accounts, with airway intervention remaining a significant part of management.

Level Of Evidence: 3 Laryngoscope, 129:2041-2044, 2019.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/lary.27734DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

ludwig's angina
20
resource utilization
8
emergency department
8
inpatient charges
8
length stay
8
mortality rate
8
ludwig's
5
angina
5
epidemiology resource
4
utilization ludwig's
4

Similar Publications

Ludwig's angina (LA) is a rapidly progressive cellulitis-causing airway obstruction that can spread through fascial planes to the floor of the mouth and into the mediastinum. Early recognition and treatment are essential for preventing potentially fatal complications. Diagnosis is based on clinical suspicion and confirmed through CT and ultrasound (US).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Ludwig's angina is a potentially fatal condition characterized by a rapid onset of cellulitis that bilaterally involves the submandibular, sublingual, and submental spaces. This report describes the case of a 29-year-old female who presented to us with Ludwig's angina following a tooth extraction performed by a traditional healer in Southwestern Uganda. The patient stayed home for over a week before she could seek formal treatment, and this delay led to severe infection and necrotizing fasciitis with extensive tissue necrosis.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The use of antibiotics in the management of odontogenic facial swellings in children and adolescents: A scoping review.

J Dent

December 2024

Melbourne Dental School, Faculty of Medicine, Dental and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Australia; Inflammatory Origins, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, The Royal Children's Hospital, Australia; Department of Dentistry, The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Australia.

Objectives: To identify evidence and guidelines relating to the use of antibiotics in the management of odontogenic facial swellings in children and adolescents.

Data: Articles relating to odontogenic facial swellings in children and adolescents aged 0-16 years were included. Articles in which paediatric data could not be differentiated from adult data or where the age of participants were unknown were excluded.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the epidemiologic factors associated with maxillofacial infections in a sample of Iranian patients.

Methods And Materials: A number of 209 patients, who admitted to Kamyab hospital due to maxillofacial infections, were recruited in this 5-year cross-sectional study. Multiple variables including the offending tooth, type of abscess, clinical signs and symptoms, the type of prescribed antibiotic, type of anesthesia, employed surgical technique, period of hospitalization, and postoperative complications were analyzed using SPSS software.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • * A case study highlighted a 70-year-old woman treated for Ludwig angina using a superficial cervical plexus block, which allowed for successful surgery and stable postoperative recovery without major complications.
  • * Proper airway management is crucial in treating Ludwig angina, as many patients require advanced care measures; however, there is still a lack of consensus on the best practices among healthcare providers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!