Abstract: Objective: To analyze the clinical parameters, treatment method, and treatment effects in patients with severe and profound oral and maxillofacial space infections. Methods: Clinical characteristics of eighteen patients with severe oral and maxillofacial space infections were collected from Nov. 2011 to Apr. 2018. Twelve patients were male and six were female, from 16 to 75 years old and the median age was 54 years old. All patients were underwent surgical and vacuum sealing drainage therapy. Results: Twelve patients were diagnosed with severe oral and maxillofacial space infections and six patients were diagnosed with profound oral and maxillofacial space infections. Sixty-two complications were developed in 17 patients, and eight out of eighteen patients had underlying systemic disease like diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hepatitis, and etc. Patients were underwent surgical intervention at the median of 6.125 hours after admission. All patients were survived. Conclusion: Accurate diagnosis, aggressive management, vacuum sealing drainage, and multidisciplinary assistance are all necessary for treating severe oral and maxillofacial space infection.

Key words: oral and maxillofacial space infections, vacuum sealing drainage, deep neck infection, descending necrotizing mediastinitis