Transoral drainage of a Retropharyngeal Abscess

Transoral Incision and Drainage of Retropharyngeal/Parapharyngeal space Abscess

Abscess located medial to great vessels in the parapharyngeal space or accessible transorally for the retropharyngeal space

Inability to access oral cavity adequately for drainage purposes

hemostat
Needle tip electrocautery
Tonsil tray & mouth gag

Setup is same as for tonsillectomy; in this video, Crowe-Davis mouth retractor was utilized, oral RAE tube for intubation

CT scan or MRI with contrast to confirm abscess formation

Be aware that the great vessels will lie just laterally in the parapharyngeal space along with lower cranial nerves

Bleeding, need for re-drainage of the abscess

Bleeding, need for re-drainage of the abscess

N/A