Background

Cervical abscesses frequently occurred in pediatric patients. Surgical drainage is currently recommended in the cases not responding to medical therapy. Needle aspiration may represent a simple, effective and minimally invasive treatment for acute neck suppuration in selected cases.

Objective

To evaluate the effectiveness of needle aspiration in the treatment of cervical abscesses in pediatric age as an alternative to surgical drainage.

Methods

From November 2013 to November 2019, at the ENT Department of the “Bambino Gesù" Pediatric Hospital, Rome, we treated 47 children with cervical abscess by performing aspiration with a 19 G needle in wakefulness after applying local anesthetic. Parenteral antibiotic treatment was associated with all patients both before and after treatment.

Results

Complete regression of the abscess occurred in 46 children with no evidence of recurrence in the follow-up period. Surgical drainage was required in only one patient due to the lack of resolution of the abscess episode. No complications such as hematomas or hypertrophic scars were found in any patient.

Conclusions

Our results confirm the effectiveness of needle aspiration in the treatment of cervical abscesses in children as an alternative to surgical drainage.

中文翻译：

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儿童颈外侧脓肿针吸：一种简单有效的治疗方法

背景

宫颈脓肿常发生于儿科患者。目前建议在对药物治疗无反应的情况下进行手术引流。在选定的病例中，针吸可能代表一种简单、有效和微创的急性颈部化脓治疗方法。

客观的

评估针吸作为手术引流的替代方法治疗儿科宫颈脓肿的有效性。

方法

2013年11月至2019年11月，在罗马“Bambino Gesù”儿科医院耳鼻喉科，我们对47例颈脓肿患儿进行了局部麻醉后清醒状态下用19G针抽吸治疗。肠外抗生素治疗与所有患者治疗前后。

结果

46 名儿童脓肿完全消退，随访期间无复发迹象。由于脓肿发作没有解决，仅一名患者需要手术引流。所有患者均未发现血肿或增生性瘢痕等并发症。

结论

我们的结果证实了针吸作为手术引流的替代方法治疗儿童宫颈脓肿的有效性。