Deep neck and mediastinal necrotizing infection secondary to a traumatic intubation: report of a case.

This article describes a patient who developed a deep neck and mediastinal necrotizing infection that was initiated by a traumatic intubation. The history of the patient's illness and the surgical procedures are reviewed and anatomic and microbial considerations of deep neck infections are discussed. The combination of aggressive and extensive surgical drainage of the neck, multiple antibiotic therapy, airway management, and treatment for septic shock, arrhythmia, and cardiomyopathy resulted in survival of the patient.