Comparison of Needle Aspiration With Incision & Drainage in the Management of Patients Presenting with Peritonsillar Abscess

Abstract

Objective: To compare the efficacy of needle aspiration with incision & drainage in the management of Peritonsillar abscess. Place and Duration of the Study: This study was carried out at Ear, Nose, Throat and Head & Neck Surgery Department of Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital at Rawalpindi from August 2007 to July 2009. Materials and Methods: Total of 60 patients with diagnosed Peritonsillar abscesses were included in the study.They were divided into two groups A & B, each consisting of 30 patients. Needle aspiration was done in group 'A'whereas patinets in group B were treated with incision & drainage. All the patients received the same parenteral antibiotics and analgesics. Patients were observed for reoccurrence of disease, fever, pain, oral intake, duration of stay in hospital. Results: The mean age of patients in both groups was 20.7 (SD+7.3) years. Four (13%) patients developed reoccurrence in group A after needle aspiration and were subjected to incision & drainage. Two of them again developed reoccurrence and required interval tonsillectomy. In group B, 3 (10%) patients developed reoccurrence after incision and drainage and all of them needed interval tonsillectomy. Twenty six (86.6%) patients in group A were afebrile at 24 hrs after treatment whereas in group B, 29 (96.9%) patients had no fever.Twenty five (83.3%) patients in group A were pain free at 24 hours while in group B, the number of pain free patients were only 16 (53.3%). Seventeen patients (56.6%) in group A began to take solid diet at 24 hours while none had taken solid diet in group B after that interval. The duration of hospital stay in group A was 27.6 hours (SD+15.1) while it was 76.9 hours (SD+116.3) in group B. Conclusion: Needle aspiration is as effective as Incision & drainage in the management of peritonsillar abscess.

Keywords

• peritonsillar abscess, drainage, tonsillitis