Comparative Study of Management of Peritonsilllar Abscess by Needle Aspiration Versus Incision and Drainage

Objective: To compare the results of needle aspiration versus incision and drainage of peritonsillar abscess. Study design: Comparative study. Patients & methodology: This study was conducted at the department of ENT Head & Neck surgery, Postgraduate Medical Institute, Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar from 01.06.2007 to 31-05-2010. A total of 62 patients were selected who presented mostly in emergency with unilateral sore throat, fever, dysphagia and trismus. Thirty one of these patients were treated by incision and drainage using guarded quinsy knife and 31 patients by needle aspiration and all were put on parenteral antibiotics. Results: Forty six patients were male and 16 female. The age ranged from 15years to 35years with mean age of 24.6 years. The majority of the patients had the complaint of unilateral sore throat which gradually progressed in 3 to 4 days to odynophagia, dysphagia, trismus, ipsilateral otalgia and headach associated with fever and lymphadenopathy. The hospital stay in patients with needle aspiration ranged from 1-6 days with an average of 3.26 days. Eight patients (25.8%) had to come back for incision and drainage which required further admission and increased the average hospital stay, thus the recovery period was from 6 to 16 days. In comparison the hospital stay with incision and drainage varied from 3 to 6 days and there was no recurrence. Conclusion: Incision and drainage is preferable to needle aspiration in patients with peritonsillar abscess.