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[Cervical abscess after hemithyroidectomy. An unusual complication]
V Pino Rivero1, G Pardo Romero, A González Palomino
1Facultativo Especialista de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital Infanta Cristina, Badajoz. vicentepinorivero@terra.com
Anales Otorrinolaringologicos Ibero-Americanos
|July 21, 2004
Summary
Cervical abscesses after hemithyroidectomy are rare. This case highlights a paratracheal purulent collection requiring surgical drainage and antibiotics, emphasizing careful antibiotic use in thyroid surgery.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Surgical Pathology
- Infectious Disease
Background:
- Hemithyroidectomy for nodular goiter can rarely lead to cervical abscess.
- Post-thyroidectomy infections are infrequent, typically requiring prompt intervention.
Observation:
- A 37-year-old male developed a paratracheal purulent collection three weeks post-hemithyroidectomy for nodular goiter.
- The patient underwent surgical drainage of the neck abscess and received 8 days of inpatient antibiotic treatment.
Findings:
- A follow-up CT scan indicated improvement, although a seroma persisted at the surgical site.
- Subsequent cervical exploration two weeks later revealed normal findings, suggesting successful resolution of the abscess.
Implications:
- This case underscores the rarity of cervical abscesses post-thyroidectomy.
- It reinforces the need for judicious antibiotic use, reserving it for documented infections like surgical site infections or abscesses, rather than routine prophylaxis.