Korean J Anesthesiol.  2008 Mar;54(3):356-358. 10.4097/kjae.2008.54.3.356.

Retropharyngeal Abscess after an Unexpected Difficult Tracheal Intubation: A case report

• Im KS
• Lee JM
• Kim JB
• Lee MH
• Kim DJ
• Jung HJ

• KMID: 2239828
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2008.54.3.356

Abstract

A retropharyngeal abscess is a rare complication of tracheal intubation.A case of retropharyngeal abscess after unexpected difficult tracheal intubation is presented with a review of the medical literature.A 45-year-old female patient underwent excision and biopsy of the left false vocal cord mass under general anesthesia with tracheal intubation.There was unexpected difficulty of the tracheal intubation and several trials of intubations were performed.The patient complained of pain on the left side of the neck, a sore throat, dysphagia, and chest discomfort one day postoperatively.The patient had fever of 38.7degrees C.Flexible laryngoscopy, neck X-ray, neck computed tomography, and pharyngoesophagographic studies were performed, which revealed a retropharyngeal abscess.The patient was treated with antibiotics, nil per os, nasogastric tube feeding and underwent surgery for incision and drainage of the retropharyngeal abscess under local anesthesia.The patient recovered without complications, and the patient was discharged 12 days postoperatively.

Keyword

complication; difficult tracheal intubation; retropharyngeal abscess

MeSH Terms

Anesthesia, General
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Biopsy
Deglutition Disorders
Drainage
Enteral Nutrition
Female
Fever
Humans
Intubation
Laryngoscopy
Middle Aged
Neck
Pharyngitis
Retropharyngeal Abscess
Thorax
Vocal Cords
Anti-Bacterial Agents