[Peritonsillar abscess--a comparison of treatment by needle aspiration and incision]

To compare the efficacy of permucosal needle aspiration with that of incision and drainage in the management of peritonsillar abscess, we reviewed the charts of 32 patients, diagnosed as having peritonsillar abscess, who had been admitted to the Central Hospital of Social Health Insurance from June 1987 to December 1991. Twelve patients, 9 males and 3 females, were managed with incision and drainage. Their average age was 34 years, with a range of 23 to 69 years. Permucosal needle aspirations were performed in 20 patients, including 14 males and 6 females. Their age ranged from 16 to 65 with a mean of 36 years. All patients received parenteral antibiotics. The duration of fever over 37.0 degrees C averaged 2.0 hospital days (range, 0 to 8 days) in patients treated with incision and drainage, and 2.1 hospital days (range, 0 to 4 days) in patients treated with needle aspiration. The average postoperative time elapsed until the patient could eat solid food with ease was 3.8 hospital days with a range of 1 to 9 days in patients treated with incision and drainage, and 3.2 hospital days with a range of 1 to 7 days in patients treated with needle aspiration. The hospital stay ranged from 3 to 9 days with an average of 5.4 days in patients treated with incision and drainage, and from 4 to 10 days with an average of 5.5 days in patients treated with needle aspiration. These data indicate that permucosal needle aspiration of peritonsillar abscess provides symptomatic relief and cure which are as rapid as those of incision and drainage.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)