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Retropharyngeal and mediastinal abscess following adenoidectomy
David Tuerlinckx1, Eddy Bodart, Georges Lawson
1Department of Pediatrics, Université Catholique de Louvain, Mont-Godinne, Yvoir, Belgium. david.tuerlinckx@pedi.ucl.ac.be
Pediatric Pulmonology
|August 12, 2003
Abstract:
Adenoidectomy is one of the most common surgical procedures in children. On rare occasions it can be complicated by a retropharyngeal abscess (RA). We report the case of a 9-year-old girl with an RA extending to the mediastinum following adenoidectomy. The mediastinal collection was successfully treated with computed tomography-guided percutaneous drainage to avoid extensive surgical procedure. Surgeons should be aware of these dramatic complications and should avoid overzealous surgery in the removal of the adenoid tissue.