Hyperbaric Oxygen as Adjuvant Therapy in Cervical Necrotizing Fasciitis

Abstract

Necrotizing fasciitis is a serious infection of the fascia and skin associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Necrotizing fasciitis rarely involves the head and neck. The standard treatment for cervical necrotizing fasciitis includes intravenous antibiotics and prompt surgical debridement. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is used as adjunctive therapy in managing necrotizing fasciitis. Several reports suggest shorter hospital duration, reduced mortality, and decreased surgical debridement when hyperbaric oxygen is used. In this report, a patient who was diagnosed with cervical necrotizing fasciitis having a large tissue defect on her neck and was administered intravenous antibiotics, surgical debridement, and adjuvant hyperbaric oxygen therapy is presented, and the related literature has been looked through.