Giant Retropharyngeal Abscess in a Nigerian Adult Following Fish Bone Throat Injury

Stanley B. Amutta, Daniel Aliyu, Mohammed Abdullahi, Mohammed Danfulani, Yunusa A. Mufutau

ENT Department, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria.
Psychiatry Department, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria.
Radiology Department, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria.

DOI: 10.4236/ijohns.2013.26056                

Abstract

Retropharyngeal abscess (RPA) is an uncommon disease entity that typically occurs in children under 5 years of age, which has the potential to cause upper airway obstruction. Upper respiratory tract infection is the most common predisposing factor to RPA in children while cervical spine tuberculosis and trauma are the major aetiological factors in the adult. We report a case of a 21-year-old Nigerian farmer with giant retropharyngeal abscess following fish bone throat injury causing life-threatening upper airway obstruction. The patient responded well to emergency tracheostomy, intraoral surgical drainage and empirical antibiotic therapy. We highlight the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges of managing such a patient.

Keywords

Giant Retropharyngeal Abscess; Fish Bone; Tracheostomy; Antibiotic; Intra-Oral Drainage

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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