Retropharyngeal abscesses in children: a 10-year review.

Abstract

Retropharyngeal abscess is a rather rare, deep-neck infection of children and may seriously compromise the airway and mimic other diseases. A retrospective review of 17 cases of retropharyngeal abscess presenting to The Children's Hospital, Denver, from 1976 to 1986 was performed. Nine children (56%) had stridor or airway obstruction. Seven patients (41%) had perforations of their hypopharynx or esophagus, including two neonates (most likely associated with intubation attempts). Two patients presented in the emergency department with a tentative diagnosis of "epiglottitis," while another referred to as having "persistent fever" was found to have a needle embedded in the hypopharynx. Fourteen children (81%) were brought to the operating room for examination and/or drainage of the abscess under general anesthesia. One child received an elective tracheotomy, and two others remained intubated postoperatively, pending resolution of their airway compromise. X-rays of the lateral neck were confirmatory in all these cases, with an unusually high incidence of "air/fluid levels," probably reflecting the corresponding large number of perforations of the hypopharynx or esophagus with subsequent communication into the retropharyngeal space.

• Authors: J E Morrison Jr, N R Pashley
• Journal: Pediatric emergency care (Pediatr Emerg Care) Vol. 4 Issue 1 Pg. 9-11 (Mar 1988) ISSN: 0749-5161 [Print] United States
• PMID: 3283710 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents

Topics

• Abscess (etiology, microbiology, therapy)
• Anti-Bacterial Agents (therapeutic use)
• Child
• Escherichia coli (isolation & purification)
• Humans
• Infant
• Infant, Newborn
• Neck
• Pharynx
• Retrospective Studies
• Staphylococcus aureus (isolation & purification)