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Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Abstract

Background/aim: Deep neck infections (DNI) are suppurative infections of the cervical spaces, which may lead to life-threatening complications. The HALP score is a laboratory parameter reflecting a patient’s nutritional and inflammatory status. The aim of this study was to compare the HALP scores of patients with DNI with those of a control group. A secondary objective was to investigate the potential relationship between the HALP score and clinical parameters, and to assess its role in determining disease severity.

Materials and methods: The study retrospectively included patients who were hospitalized and treated for DNI. Data were extracted from the hospital’s electronic records. The control group comprised patients admitted for surgery with a diagnosis of septal deviation. Patients with DNI were designated as Group 1, and the control subjects as Group 2. HALP scores were calculated using a defined formula. The HALP scores of patients with DNI were compared with those of the control group, and the relationship between the HALP score and various clinical parameters was subsequently evaluated.

Results: A total of 433 patients were included in the study. The groups were similar in terms of number of patients, age, and sex. Hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte count, and HALP scores were significantly lower in Group 1, whereas leukocyte, neutrophil, monocyte, and platelet counts were significantly higher. A negative correlation was observed between the HALP score and length of hospital stay (r = –0.293, p < 0.01), abscess dimensions (height: r = –0.271; length: r = –0.267, p < 0.01), and CRP levels (r = –0.222, p< 0.01).

Conclusion: Patients with DNI exhibited lower HALP scores than the normal population. HALP scores below 46.14 were significantly associated with indicators of severe disease, including an elevated inflammatory response, larger abscess size, and prolonged hospitalstay.

Author ORCID Identifier

AYŞE KAYALI DİNÇ: 0000-0001-9004-8806

NAGİHAN GÜLHAN YAŞAR: 0000-0003-1207-3584

AGAH YENİÇERİ: 0000-0002-5024-4009

ÇETİN ŞAHUTOĞLU: 0009-0002-0870-331X

İBRAHİM SEVİM: 0009-0001-5180-520X

MELİH ÇAYÖNÜ: 0000-0001-5542-1898

DOI

10.55730/1300-0144.6024

Keywords

abscess, Deep neck infections, HALP score, severity, treatment

First Page

754

Last Page

759

Publisher

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK)

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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