[Upper airway obstruction after peritonsillar abscess drainage: case report.].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Peritonsillar abscess is an unusual complication, but predisposes to severe upper airway complications. This report aimed at presenting a case of upper airway obstruction after surgical drainage of a peritonsillar abscess in a healthy young female patient. CASE REPORT Young female patient, 26 years old, with severe peritonsillar abscess and submitted to general anesthesia for drainage. After extubation, she presented a severe respiratory failure requiring reintubation and controlled ventilation for 24 hours. CONCLUSIONS The anesthetic strategy and the adequate surgical indication are fundamental in preventing complications during ENT surgeries.