TITLE:
Giant Retropharyngeal Abscess in a Nigerian Adult Following Fish Bone Throat Injury
AUTHORS:
Stanley B. Amutta, Daniel Aliyu, Mohammed Abdullahi, Mohammed Danfulani, Yunusa A. Mufutau
KEYWORDS:
Giant Retropharyngeal Abscess; Fish Bone; Tracheostomy; Antibiotic; Intra-Oral Drainage
JOURNAL NAME:
International Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery,
Vol.2 No.6,
November
11,
2013
ABSTRACT: Retropharyngeal abscess
(RPA) is an uncommon disease entity that typically occurs in children under 5
years of age, which has the
potential to cause upper airway obstruction. Upper respiratory tract infection
is the most common predisposing factor to RPA in children while cervical spine
tuberculosis and trauma are the major aetiological factors in the adult. We
report a case of a 21-year-old Nigerian farmer with giant retropharyngeal abscess
following fish bone throat injury causing life-threatening upper airway
obstruction. The patient responded well to emergency tracheostomy, intraoral surgical
drainage and empirical antibiotic therapy. We highlight the diagnostic and
therapeutic challenges of managing such a patient.