Effectiveness and Therapeutic Impact of CT-Guided Percutaneous Drainage for Deep Neck Abscesses

Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of CT-guided percutaneous drainage (CPD) in the management of deep neck abscesses. Factors associated with successful treatment in patients with DNA will be identified. Methods: We retrospectively studied 29 patients who presented to the department of otolaryngology with deep neck abscesses between April 2011 and April 2015. These 29 patients were managed with CPD after antibiotic therapy or needle aspiration failed. Data on patient demographics, location of infection, existing comorbidity, duration of hospitalization, treatment received, and complications were reviewed. Results: The average age of 29 patients, including 18 men and 11 women, was 56 years old. Abscess was found in parapharyngeal space (n = 16), submandibular space (n = 7), retropharyngeal space (n = 5) and pretracheal space (n = 1). The maximum transverse diameter of abscess ranged from 4.8 cm to 8.0 cm (mean 6.03 cm). Positive cultures were found in 24 cases and the most common pathogen found was Streptococcus viridans. Average hospital stay was 6.7 days. Deep neck abscesses were completely removed without residual in all patients. No one had complications and no one died during and after CPD. Conclusion: CPD is a safe and highly effective procedure for treating patients with deep neck abscesses who do not respond to antibiotics therapy. This technique can also provide reliable evidence on pathogens responsible for deep neck abscesses and help otolaryngologists choose effective treatment to achieve better clinical success rate. We recommend that most deep neck abscesses should be managed initially by CPD before resorting to open surgery.