Pediatric Retropharyngeal Abscess)

Retropharyngeal abscesses are deep neck space infections that can pose an immediate life-threatening emergency, with potential for airway compromise and other catastrophic complications. Retropharyngeal abscess can lead to airway obstruction or sepsis both life-threatening emergencies. Fatalities normally occur from patients not receiving treatment immediately and suffocating prior to knowing that anything serious was wrong. This is a retrospective study of five (5) cases with the discharge diagnosis of Retropharyngeal abscess treated in the past 3 years, only children below 12 yrs were taken in the study, the disease predominantly presented with fever and pain in throat with dysphagia, poor oral intake, neck pain and sore throat. Patients were immediately investigated by X-ray and CT scan, and once the diagnosis of retropharyngeal abscess was established, they were managed by aspiration under General Anesthesia, along with intravenous Antibiotics. Early diagnosis is the key to management of these conditions to avoid morbidity and mortality. Some interesting observations like incidence of Koch’s lesions and type of surgical intervention chosen along with possibility of recurrence will be presented in detail.