Peritonsillar abscess: Difference between revisions
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**Contralateral deflection of swollen uvula | **Contralateral deflection of swollen uvula | ||
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*Peritonsillar cellulitis | *Peritonsillar cellulitis | ||
*[[Mono]] | *[[Mono]] |
Revision as of 00:16, 16 February 2015
Background
- Abscess between tonsillar capsule and superior constrictor and palatopharyngeus muscles
- Microbiology
- Polymicrobial: strep/staph, anaerobes, eikenella, haemophilus
Clinical Features
- Symptoms
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Odynophagia/dysphagia
- Signs
- Trismus
- Muffled voice ("hot potato voice")
- Contralateral deflection of swollen uvula
Differential Diagnosis
- Peritonsillar cellulitis
- Mono
- Lymphoma
- Herpes simplex tonsillitis
- Retropharyngeal Abscess
- Internal carotid artery aneurysm
Diagnosis
- Ultrasound
- Differentiates cellulitis from abscess
- Can identify neck vasculature prior to aspiration
- CT w/ IV contrast
- Differentiates PTA from parapharyngeal or retropharyngeal space infection
Treatment
- No difference in outcome when comparing needle aspiration with I&D
- Needle Aspiration
- Apply anesthetic spray to overlying mucosa
- Have pt hold suction, and use as needed
- Use laryngoscope or disassembled vaginal speculum with wand as tongue depressor and light source
- Inject 1-2mL of lidocaine with epi into mucosa of anterior tonsillar pillar using 25ga needle
- Cut distal tip off of needle sheath and place over 18ga needle to expose 1 cm of needle to prevent accidentally plunging deeper than desired
- Aspirate using 18ga needle just lateral to the tonsil, no more than 1cm (internal carotid artery 2.5 cm posterolateral)
- May require multiple aspirations to find the abscess (first try superior then middle then inferior poles)
- Consider spinal needle if pt has significant trismus.
- I&D
- 11 or 15 blade scalpel
- Do not penetrate more than 1cm
- May be indicated if significant pus with needle aspiration
- Abx
- Outpatient
- Clindamycin 300mg PO Q6hrs x7-10d OR
- Amoxicillin/Clavulanate 875 mg PO BID x 7-10d OR
- Penicillin V 500mg PO + flagyl 500mg QID
- Inpatient
- Ampicillin/Sulbactam 3 gm (75mg/kg) IV QID OR
- Pipericillin/Tazobactam 4.5 gm IV TID OR
- Ticarcillin/Clavulanate 3.1 g IV QID OR
- Clindamycin 600-900mg IV TID
- Outpatient
- Steroids
- Improves duration and severity of pain
- Methylprednisolone 125mg IV x1 OR dexamethasone 10mg PO/IM x1
- Indications for tonsillectomy:
- Airway obstruction
- Recurrent severe pharyngitis or PTA
- Failure of abscess resolution with drainage
Complications
- Airway obstruction
- Rupture abscess with aspiration of contents
- Hemorrhage due to erosion of carotid sheath
- Retropharyngeal abscess
- Mediastinitis
- Recurrence occurs in 10-15% of patients
- Lemierre's Syndrome
Disposition
- F/u in 2-3 days
- Return Precautions:
- SOB
- Worsening throat or neck pain
- Enlarging mass
- Bleeding
- Neck stiffness
See Also
Source
- Tintinalli
- UpToDate
- Roberts & Hedges