Role of Anti-coagulation in Lemierre's Syndrome With Empyema

TL;DR

This case study describes a rare instance of Lemierre's syndrome with empyema and the successful treatment approach involving antibiotics and anti-coagulation.

Contribution

The novelty lies in highlighting the role of anti-coagulation in managing Lemierre's syndrome with thoracic complications.

Findings

The patient showed clinical improvement with normalized inflammatory markers and resolved radiological effusion.

A six-week antibiotic course and transition to rivaroxaban were effective in the patient's recovery.

Abstract

Lemierre's syndrome (LS) is a rare and potentially life-threatening condition that arises as a complication of oropharyngeal infections, characterized by internal jugular vein thrombosis and septicemia. This report describes a rare case of a 26-year-old previously healthy man with typical manifestations mentioned above and additionally with empyema. Management approach was multidisciplinary inputs comprised of antibiotics and surgical measures including anti-coagulation under a specialist’s opinion; nonetheless, it has been a debated issue. The patient improved clinically with normalization of inflammatory markers and radiological resolution of the effusion. He was discharged with a six-week antibiotic course and transitioned to rivaroxaban. This case highlights the importance of early recognition and multidisciplinary management of LS with thoracic complications.

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