Retropharyngeal abscess secondary to penetrating foreign bodies

A retrospective study was conducted on patients with upper aerodigestive tract foreign bodies requiring operative intervention over a 12-year period to aid in the recognition and management of foreign body associated complications. Oesophagoscopies were performed for the removal of foreign bodies in 37 patients, age one to 82 years with a male to female ratio of 1.2:1. Retropharyngeal abscesses accounted for eight of 11 foreign body-associated complications. Fish bones were the cause in six cases, chicken bone and a pen refill in one case each. An abscess was already present at the time of initial procedure in six cases and developed in two cases after successful removal of the foreign body. A high level of suspicion for a retropharyngeal abscess should be maintained in cases with perforation, and in patients with immunodeficiency, (C) 2000 European Association for Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery.