[Treatment of peripharyngeal abscesses by means of intra-oral puncture-aspiration and drainage].

INTRODUCTION Parapharyngeal and retropharyngeal abscesses are life-threatening infections, with a much lower incidence since the advent of antibiotics. However, they still represent a considerable number of emergency visits to reference centres where they are managed with various protocols to improve both morbidity and mortality. PATIENTS AND METHOD Medical records of 25 consecutive patients at our institution (17 adults and 8 children) diagnosed and treated with the same protocol for peripharyngeal abscess were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS All cases were managed using a minimally-invasive intra-oral approach, with resolution of the clinical findings and symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Puncture with intra-oral aspiration and/or drainage of peripharyngeal abscesses is an effective option instead of the external approach.