RETROPHARYNGEAL ABCESS Flashcards
When will retropharyngeal abscess appear?
children younger than 3-4 yr of age;
Who is affected more? male or female?
Males are affected more often than females
Lateral pharyngeal abscess commonly presents as what?
fever
dysphagia
prominent bulge of the lateral pharyngeal wall, sometimes with medial displacement of the tonsil
What imaging can be useful in identifying the presence of a retropharyngeal, lateral pharyngeal, or parapharyngeal abscess?
CT SCAN
What CT scan finding may indicate a late abscess formation?
Scalloping of the abscess wall
What are the CT scan findings in patients with retropharyngeal abscesses?
central lucency
ring enhancement,
scalloping of the walls of a lymph node
What are the most common infections seen?
group A streptococcus
oropharyngeal anaerobic bacteria
Staphylococcus aureus
Haemophilus influenzae
Klebsiella,
What is the effetive treatment?
third-generation cephalosporin
ampicillin-sulbactam
clindamycin
to provide anaerobic coverage is
effective
Can these be treatment with antibiotics alone?
YES
When is I&D warranted?
with respiratory distress
failure to improve with intravenous antibiotic treatment
What are the complications?
significant upper airway obstruction
rupture leading to aspiration
pneumonia
extension to the mediastinum
What is Lemierre disease?
infection from the oropharynx extends to cause septic thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein and embolic abscesses in the lungs
What is the causative agent of Lemierre disease?
Fusobacterium necrophorum
What is Peritonsillar cellulitis and/or abscess?
caused by bacterial invasion
through the capsule of the tonsil, leading to cellulitis and/or abscess formation in the surrounding tissues
What is the typical History and PE of peritonsillar abcess?
recent history of acute pharyngotonsillitis
sore throat
fever
trismus
muffled or garbled voice
asymmetric tonsillar bulge with displacement of the uvula
dysphagia
