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Retropharyngeal Abscess in an Adult With Pneumonia During COVID-19 Outbreak
Tianyu Wang1, Haibin Liu1, Caiquan Liang1
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.
Background:
Retropharyngeal abscesses are rarely reported in adults and occur mostly in patients with immunocompromised or as a foreign body complication. Admittedly, the treatment of retropharyngeal abscesses frequently involves surgical drainage to achieve the best results. However, when retropharyngeal abscesses occurred in a highly suspected patient with COVID-19, the managements and treatments should be caution to prevent the spread of the virus.
Clinical Presentation:
On February 13, a 40-year-old male with retropharyngeal abscesses turned to our department complaining dyspnea and dysphagia. In addition, his chest CT scan shows a suspected COVID-19 infection, thus making out Multiple Disciplinary Team determine to perform percutaneous drainage and catheterization through left anterior cervical approach under the guidance of B-ultrasound. Finally, the patient recovered and was discharged from the hospital on February 27 after 14 days of isolation. There was no recurrence after half a year follow-up.
Conclusions:
By presenting this case, we aim at raising awareness of different surgical drainage methods and summarizing our experience in the management of retropharyngeal abscesses during the outbreak of COVID-19.
Insights
This case study highlights percutaneous drainage for retropharyngeal abscesses in a COVID-19 patient. This minimally invasive approach proved effective, ensuring patient recovery and preventing viral transmission.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Infectious Diseases
- Interventional Radiology
Background:
- Retropharyngeal abscesses are uncommon in adults, often linked to compromised immunity or foreign bodies.
- Standard treatment involves surgical drainage, but caution is needed for COVID-19 patients to prevent viral spread.
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