Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2009 Apr;52(4):354-358. 10.3342/kjorl-hns.2009.52.4.354.

Ultrasonography Guided Percutaneous Aspiration and Drainage of Deep Neck Abscesses

• Han KY
• Lee JH
• Kim JH
• Kim JY
• Shim BS
• Song YJ

• KMID: 2277037
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/kjorl-hns.2009.52.4.354

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: For abscesses in the head and neck, traditional open surgical incision-and-drainage procedure may incur added morbidity and result in disfiguring scars. Therefore, a noninvasive alternative to open surgical drainage may be quite beneficial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of percutaneous ultrasonography-guided aspiration and drainage in the management of the selected head and neck abscesses.
SUBJECTS AND METHOD
Retrospective review was done for 12 patients with unilocular or multilocular abscess sized 2 cm or more in the greatest in different locations and origins. All patients did not present imminent airway compromise and subsequently underwent ultrasonography guided aspiration and drainage.
RESULTS
All of the abscesses were resolved in 11 patients within 10 days. Even multilocular abscesses were resolved without open surgical drainage. One abscess in which Mycobacterium tuberculosis was isolated persisted more than 3 weeks in spite of ultrasonography guided aspiration and drainage, and resolved by antituberculosis medication of more than 10 months.
CONCLUSION
Percutaneous ultrasonography-guided aspiration and drainage is a safe and effective procedure, for the abscesses in the head and neck without life threatening conditions.

Keyword

Neck; Abscess; Percutaneous drainage

MeSH Terms

Abscess
Cicatrix
Drainage
Head
Humans
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Neck
Retrospective Studies