Catheter Drainage of Neck Abscess in Children

Image-guided percutaneous drainage has been shown to be a safe and effective alternative to surgery in the management of neck abscess. Two patients, 7-year and 4-month-old girls, were treated with X-ray fluoroscopy and ultrasonography-guided percutaneous 7 Fr trocar-type pigtail catheter drainage and antimicrobial therapy. This method was performed without complications and open surgical drainage was avoided in both cases. One patient had a persistent abscess, but was treated successfully by repeated catheter drainages.Percutaneous drainage may be a useful alternative to surgical drainage in a selected group of patients with localized, smaller abscess without imminent airway obstruction.