Percutaenous Drainage of Deep Neck Space Abscess Under Ultrasonography Guidance

Abstract

Deep neck space abscess, usually caused by dental or upper airway infection, is a troublesome disease in otorhinolaryngology. It can cause serious complications such as airway obstruction, mediastinitis and sepsis, and sometimes require emergency operation (incision and drainage). Recently, percutaneous drainage under ultrasonography guidance has been reported to show more therapeutic effects and advantages than surgery. However, in most cases, it is performed by radiologists and there are no reports explaining the procedures in detail. Therefore, we would like to introduce the methods and tips of ultrasonography-guided percutaneous drainage of deep neck space abscess directly performed by otorhinolaryngologists.