Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
4103234 American Journal of Otolaryngology 2014 5 Pages PDF
Abstract

PurposeA retropharyngeal abscess (RPA) is an extremely rare entity in adults that has a tendency to spread vertically and cause a mediastinal abscess. Traditionally, immediate aggressive drainage is recommended via a transcervical or transthoracic approach for the treatment of a retropharyngeal abscess with mediastinal extension. Here, we present a case of a retropharyngeal and mediastinal abscess using a transoral negative-pressure catheter drainage approach.Patients and methodsA 24-year-old woman was admitted with a 4-day history of severe sore throat and painful swallowing. Computed tomography identified a retropharyngeal abscess extending to the upper posterior mediastinum. We performed transoral negative-pressure catheter drainage.ResultsThe postoperative course was uneventful. The patient reported a rapid improvement in symptoms and had a good tolerance of the catheters in the nasal cavity. At 2 years postoperatively, physical examinations revealed no recurrence or surgical complications.ConclusionsTransoral negative-pressure catheter drainage is a minimally invasive operation for the treatment of RPA in adults with or without a mediastinal abscess. This method could be recommended as an alternative approach in such cases.

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