BACKGROUND: Necrotizing fasciitis of the face is a very rare disease. This article describes for the first time a case report of a patient with an aggressive necrotizing fasciitis of the face treated with the vacuum dressing developed at the University of São Paulo. CASE REPORT: The patient suffered an infection which began on parotid gland progressing to the deep planes in face causing systemic repercussion. The treatment was based on serial surgical debridement and placement of the vacuum dressing. After bed preparation with this dressing, a scalp flap was performed. This study confirms the rarity of the case and elucidates the peculiarities of the treatment, emphasizing the importance of the surgical debridement with early diagnosis and immediate and aggressive approach to this type of severe soft tissue infection. The patient evolved to death by septic shock and multiple organ failure although the infection of cephalic region had been controlled and the wound had been reduced. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment with vacuum dressing can be implemented for Necrotizing Fasciitis of the face with benefits. The vacuum USP [University of São Paulo] was effective in its performance, with low cost, but a greater number of cases should be treated with the vacuum USP for its scientific validation comparing with the imp orted product available.
Necrotizing fasciitis; Face; Vacuum; Debridement; Soft Tissue Infections
