Background: We present the case of a 47-year-old man who presented to the Emergency Department (ED) with complaint of left-sided neck pain. He was thought to have a musculoskeletal sprain on his initial visit. However, he returned the following evening with worsening symptoms. On further investigation, he was found to have a non-traumatic retropharyngeal abscess (RPA), a rare infection in the adult patient population.
Objectives: This infection has been studied primarily in the pediatric population, and extrapolation of their studies demonstrates the importance of airway stabilization, antibiotic use targeting polymicrobial organisms, and conservative medical management vs. surgical drainage. We aim to summarize this case and review the literature on retropharyngeal abscess.
Case Report: This patient presented to the ED with complaints of left-sided neck pain. There was no history of trauma or injury to the affected area. He was evaluated and discharged but returned with a deteriorating clinical picture. On further evaluation, he was found to have a non-traumatic RPA. He was admitted to the Otolaryngology service and managed conservatively with intravenous (IV) antibiotics. His condition resolved and he was subsequently discharged from the hospital.
Conclusions: The majority of data on diagnosis and treatment of adult RPA have come from the pediatric population. However, the same essential treatment principles apply: airway stabilization, resuscitation, initiation of IV antibiotics, and consultation with an otolaryngology specialist.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jemermed.2011.09.028 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Unveiling the dark side of : a case of fatal pneumonia from a common probiotic.
Front Med (Lausanne)
December 2024
Department of Cardiology, General Hospital of Central Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army, Wuhan, China.
is often considered a complex associated with a healthy plant-based diet that acts as a "probiotic" throughout the body's entire digestive tract from the mouth to the anus. Previous studies have not reported that this "probiotic" colonizing the human body could cause severe pneumonia. This case report describes a 56-year-old healthy female worker with gum pain followed by fever.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImpact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Emergency Declarations on Surgeries for Deep Neck Infection Incidence in Japan.
J Infect Chemother
December 2024
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan.
Introduction: Deep neck infections are lethal diseases; however, factors related to their prevention remain unclear. The national emergency declaration in April 2020, in response to COVID-19, spurred widespread adoption of nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) such as hand washing, mask wearing, and social distancing.
Methods: This retrospective cohort study examines the impact of these interventions on the incidence of deep neck infections in Japan through interrupted time series analysis using National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan Open Data.
Predictive factors in difficult postoperative airway management of severe odontogenic deep neck infection.
Odontology
December 2024
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
In this study, we aimed to identify risk factors that predict the postoperative need for advanced or prolonged airway management in patients with severe odontogenic deep neck infections (DNIs). This retrospective case-control study included patients of both sexes aged ≥ 18 years who had undergone surgical drainage including debridement of necrotic tissues of odontogenic deep neck abscesses and necrotizing soft tissue infection under general anesthesia between April 2016 and September 2023 at a single center. The patients' characteristics, laboratory tests, and computed tomography (CT) findings were analyzed and compared between the difficult postoperative airway group, which required prolonged intubation or tracheostomy, and the short-term intubation group.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDetection of Aberrant Carotid Arteries Prior to an Adenoidectomy: A Case Report.
Cureus
November 2024
Otolaryngology, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, USA.
Aberrant carotid arteries are rare vascular anomalies that can significantly complicate head and neck surgeries, particularly in pediatric patients. These anomalies may be asymptomatic and are often discovered incidentally on imaging studies performed for unrelated conditions. The failure to recognize these anomalies preoperatively can result in life-threatening complications, such as catastrophic hemorrhage.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExtent of abscess development in cervical abscesses and pathogenic bacteria related to swallowing function.
Acta Otolaryngol
December 2024
Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Iwate Medical University School of Medicine, Yahaba, Japan.
Background: Deep neck infections (DNIs) in the cervical fascial planes can cause severe complications such as airway obstruction, mediastinitis, and sepsis.
Aims/objectives: This study examines cervical abscess development, its relationship with postoperative swallowing function, and hospital stay duration.
Material And Methods: A retrospective case series of 55 DNI patients was divided by hospital stay (<30 days: Group A, ≥30 days: Group B) and swallowing recovery (<6 days: Group C, ≥6 days: Group D).
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!