Application of Disposable Multifunctional Drainage Tube-Assisted Irrigation in Patients With Severe Multi-Space Infections in Oral and Maxillofacial Head and Neck Regions

Purpose:To compare the clinical efficacy of disposable multifunctional drainage tube (DMDT)-assisted irrigation with the traditional abscess incision rubber drainage technique in patients with severe multi-space infections in oral and maxillofacial head and neck regions.Patients and Methods:The data of 74 patients with severe multi-space infections in oral and maxillofacial head and neck regions, who were admitted to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Central Hospital of Panzhihua City, Sichuan Province, China, between January 2015 and January 2019, were retrospectively studied. According to the treatment method, the patients were divided into 2 groups: the DMDT-assisted irrigation group and the abscess incision rubber drainage group. Cure rate, complications, length of hospitalization, days of antimicrobial use, cost of antimicrobial drugs, total hospitalization cost, number of dressing changes, and patient pain during dressing changes were compared between the 2 groups.Results:Of the 74 patients, 38 were treated with the DMDT-assisted irrigation, and 36 with the traditional abscess incision rubber drainage. Compared with the traditional treatment group, the total hospitalization cost of the DMDT-assisted irrigation group is not much different (P=0.72), but the patients in the DMDT-assisted irrigation group have higher cure rate, fewer complications, less antibiotics cost, shorter hospitalization length and fewer dressing changes than the control group (P<0.05).Conclusions:The DMDT-assisted irrigation technique not only improves the cure rate, reduces complications, shortens hospitalization, reduces the use of antibiotics, and alleviates patient pain during dressing changes, but also improves clinical and therapeutic efficacy by reducing the number of dressing changes.