How To Drain a Peritonsillar Abscess

• Clinically apparent peritonsillar abscess: Incision and drainage or needle aspiration

• Possible peritonsillar abscess: Needle aspiration for diagnosis and treatment

Absolute contraindications

• Intractable trismus

Relative contraindications

• Poor patient cooperation

• Coagulopathy

• Uncertain diagnosis (for incision and drainage)

If the diagnosis is uncertain, point-of-care ultrasound or needle aspiration can be done to confirm the presence of an abscess. Alternatives include CT scan or, for mildly ill patients, discharge on antibiotics with close follow-up.

• Aspiration of blood

• Hemorrhage

• Puncture of the carotid artery

• Incomplete drainage of the abscess

• Gloves

• Protective eyewear

• Mask

• Drugs for IV analgesia and sedation

• Tongue depressor

• Headlamp

• Frazier-tip or Yankauer suction catheter attached to wall suction

• For aspiration, a 10-mL syringe with 18- or 20-gauge needle

• For incision and drainage, a scalpel with a No. 11 or 15 blade

• For incision and drainage, a tonsil clamp

Needle aspiration may miss the abscess cavity and result in misdiagnosis as peritonsillar cellulitis. Thus, if an abscess is still suspected (eg, based on clinical or imaging findings), some clinicians treat patients with IV antibiotics, corticosteroids, and close observation—sometimes in hospital—even if needle aspiration yields no pus.

• The tonsils are located between the anterior and posterior pillars of the throat. The lateral wall of the tonsil is adjacent to the superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle.

• A peritonsillar abscess is located between the tonsil capsule, the superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle, and the palatopharyngeus muscle. The abscess is not within the tonsil.

• The internal carotid artery lies about 2.5 cm posterolateral to the tonsil.

• Patient should sit upright with a support behind the head to prevent sudden backward movement.

• Spray the topical anesthetic and wait several minutes for it to take effect.

• Have an assistant retract the cheek laterally to improve visibility.

• Push the tongue out of the way using a tongue depressor or finger.

• Identify the most prominent part of the abscess. Point-of-care ultrasound is sometimes used to localize the abscess.

For needle aspiration

• Use the 10-mL syringe with an 18- or 20-gauge needle

• Apply continuous suction and direct the needle in the sagittal plane (anterior to posterior) and not to the side (laterally). This is important to avoid the carotid artery.

• Aspirate the most prominent area first; it is usually the superior pole. If no pus is aspirated, aspirate the middle, then inferior pole. Do not aspirate the tonsil itself.

• Typically 2 to 6 mL of pus is obtained. Send a sample for culture.

For incision and drainage

• Warn the patient that pus will flow and must be spit out.

• Use a scalpel with a No. 15 blade or a No. 11 with tape covering all but 0.5 to 1.0 cm of the blade.

• Make an 0.5 cm incision in the anterior-to-posterior direction over the most prominent area, or the location where needle aspiration (if done) identified pus.

• Use a suction catheter to remove pus and blood. Some bleeding is expected after incision.

• Place a closed tonsil clamp into the incised opening and gently open it to break up any loculations.

• Have the patient rinse and gargle with a saline or a dilute peroxide-saline solution.

• Observe the patient for 1 hour for complications such as bleeding, and to ensure that the patient can tolerate fluids.

• Discharge on oral antibiotics and warm saline rinses to follow up in 24 hours

• Patients with excessive bleeding, aspiration, or who are unable to take oral antibiotics require prolonged observation or hospitalization.

• Patients who have had multiple abscesses should usually have elective tonsillectomy after 4 to 6 weeks to prevent abscess recurrence.

Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a possibility, empiric antibiotics should be broadened to cover this.

• Oversedating the patient and risking aspiration

• Injecting anesthetic directly into the abscess cavity (because this is painful)

• Inserting the needle or scalpel blade too deeply (because this risks penetrating the carotid artery); if pus is not obtained at 1-cm depth, do not go deeper.

• For needle aspiration, not ensuring that the needle is inserted in the sagittal plane (anterior to posterior). Do not insert the needle to the side (laterally) in the direction of the carotid artery.

• A headlamp is essential because it allows the use of both hands: one to perform the needle aspiration and the other to depress the tongue with a tongue blade.

• For needle aspiration, to limit depth of penetration, some clinicians cut off the distal 1 cm of the plastic needle sheath and replace it over the needle, thus leaving only 1 cm of needle protruding. Tape the sheath onto the syringe so it does not fall off and become aspirated.

• Similarly for incision and drainage, some clinicians apply tape to all but the distal 0.5 to 1 cm of the scalpel blade as a depth guide.

• If pus continues to drain from the needle puncture site, repeat aspiration or incision and drainage may be indicated.