Abstract:
Objective To investigate the clinical manifestations and treatment of patients with deep neck abscess, and to summarize the treatment experience, in order to reduce complications and improve the level of treatment. Methods Retrospective analysis of the clinical data from 22 patients with neck abscess in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, collected from January 2018 to October 2021, among which, 17 were male and 5 were female. After admission, patients actively treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics or surgical treatment, meanwhile, the patient ' s clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment methods and effects were recorded. Results Twelve cases underwent lateral neck incision and abscess drainage, of which 1 case underwent thoracoscopic thoracic abscess removal at the same time; 1 case showed a tonsillar foreign body with abscess on neck CT and three-dimensional CT before operation, and underwent tonsillectomy as well as pharyngeal foreign body exploration. There was a peritonsilar purulent secretion, and no foreign body was found, then, the patient was discharged for observation after recovery; 1 case showed a cervical foreign body with a retropharyngeal abscess on neck CT, before the operation. Further, intubation was difficult, and an emergency tracheotomy was performed in this case. Subsequently, postpharyngeal abscess incision and drainage, foreign body exploration, as well as esophagoscopy exploration were applied, and a large amount of pus was found, no obvious foreign body was discovered, then the patient was discharged for observation after recovery; 4 cases of continuous drainage under B-ultrasound puncture, among which, 1 case of poor drainage and complicated by sepsis, and the treatment was given up; 1 case of common carotid artery pseudoaneurysm was repaired after rupture; the remaining 3 cases were treated conservatively. After being discharged from the hospital, the patients were followed up for 1 month. Except for the 1 case who gave up the treatment, the remaining 21 cases were cured without recurrence. Conclusion Deep neck abscess is one of the critical illnesses in otolaryngology head and neck surgery. Preoperative diagnosis and emergency incision and drainage are the key to treatment. Diagnosis should be combined with a variety of examinations to prevent missed diagnosis or misdiagnosis, and angiographic examination can be performed if necessary. Patients with dyspnea choose tracheotomy, general anesthesia intubation assessment, rational use of antibiotics, and close attention to the general condition, which play an important role in the treatment.