Lemierre’s syndrome: A potentially fatal complication that may require vascular surgical intervention

• Published in: Journal of vascular surgery Vol. 42; no. 5; pp. 1023 - 1025
• Main Authors: Charles, Kirk, Flinn, William R., Neschis, David G.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.11.2005; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Cardiology. Vascular system; Diseases of the peripheral vessels. Diseases of the vena cava. Miscellaneous; Emergency and intensive care: renal failure. Dialysis management; Humans; Intensive care medicine; Jugular Veins; Male; Medical sciences; Risk Factors; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Syndrome; Thrombophlebitis - complications; Thrombophlebitis - diagnosis; Thrombophlebitis - surgery; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; Vascular surgery: aorta, extremities, vena cava. Surgery of the lymphatic vessels; Vascular Surgical Procedures; Venous Thrombosis - etiology; Infection; Bacteriosis; Cardiovascular disease; Complication; Lemierre syndrome; Surgery
• ISSN: 0741-5214; 1097-6809
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jvs.2005.07.005

Septic phlebitis of the internal jugular vein, Lemierre’s syndrome, is extremely rare. However, Lemierre’s syndrome may cause septic pulmonary emboli or result in fatal systemic sepsis, or both, if a timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment are not provided. We present a case of Lemierre’s syndrome that occurred in an otherwise healthy young man. In this case, progression to a moribund state was rapid, and surgical intervention proved lifesaving.