DIB, Jamil Elias et al. Ludwig's Angine with Evolution to Mediastinitis. Case Report. Rev. cir. traumatol. buco-maxilo-fac. []. 2016, 16, 4, pp. 30-35. ISSN 1808-5210.

The Ludwig's angina is an acute and severe infectious process of a cellulitis cervical connective tissue that affects the bilateral submandibular perimandibulares spaces, sublingual and submental). Its nature is polymicrobial, usually of dental origin or related to dental extractions in immunologically compromised patients or debilitating conditions. Has rapidly evolving and can suddenly invade the fascial spaces or vascular sheaths and spread to the neck, blocking the airway. Disease progression can reach the mediastinum compressing the heart and lungs, causing severe respiratory failure and evolve into extremely severe sepsis and require emergency measures such as tracheotomy, abscess drainage and numerous pockets, open chest surgical drainage, the patient's hydration and an antimicrobial therapy which achieves both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and anaerobes. This article presents a case of Ludwig's angina with evolution to mediastinitis that the use of thoracotomy and tracheostomy to conduct assist control was needed.

: Ludwig's angina; Mediastinitis; Thoracotomy..