Endonasal Endoscopic Surgery for Rhinogen Intraorbital Abscess

Intraorbital abscess is a serious complication of sinusitis with the danger of permanent loss of vision and even the danger of life-threatening progress. The recommended surgical procedure in the literature for drainage of an intraorbital abscess is the external approach. We report on successful functional endonasal endoscopic surgery in a series of six sequential cases with intraorbital abscesses following sinusitis. The main advantages of this approach are the simultaneous treatment of causative disorders with surgery following the pathogenic route of the abscess formation and lack of trauma to further structures. The endoscope with 25- or 70-degree angled axis of vision enables the surgeon to explore and drain the abscess cavity, which often is located behind the bulbus, with minimal trauma. For the trained surgeon the field of vision is favorable as compared with the external approach when the abscess is located right in the axis of vision and one has to cut through healthy tissue and the intact skin, which, especially in children, can lead to long-lasting visible scars.     

耳源性小脑脓肿2例并文献复习

目的 探讨耳源性小脑脓肿的临床特点,提高此类疾病的诊治水平。方法 回顾性分析2例耳源性小脑脓肿患者的病历资料,复习相关文献。结果 2例均有慢性耳流脓史,中耳胆脂瘤,入院时表情淡漠,无中枢神经系统体征。患者一在乳突根治后经乳突入路行小脑脓肿穿刺抽脓而治愈;患者二先行乙状窦后入路桥小脑角脑脓肿切除,半个月后再行改良乳突根治而治愈。随访3~6年,均无复发。结论 耳源性小脑脓肿并不多见,容易漏诊,处理不当易致死亡,诊断主要依据增强CT及MRI检查。治疗应首选在积极抗感染的基础上,防止颅内压增高,尽早行根治性乳突病灶清除,确保术腔引流通畅,同时尽可能行经乳突入路穿刺抽脓;若患者病情危急,可先行钻颅抽脓,同时行乳突切开引流以提高抗生素的抗菌效果;若多发脓肿者,应先行开颅脓肿切除或与乳突根治同期手术。抗生素敏感、脓肿较小者,有条件的医院可在加强抗感染下先行乳突病灶根治,MRI定期检查随访。彻底清除乳突病灶及选择敏感抗生素是减少耳源性小脑脓肿复发的两个关键因素。     

Transoral approach to drain streptococcus pneumoniae spinal epidural abscess in an HIV-infected adult

Spinal epidural abscess due to Streptococcus pneumoniae is extremely rare in adults. It typically occurs in the thoracic, lumbar or lumbosacral epidural spaces, and less frequently in the cervical epidural space. The principal causative microbial agent is Staphylococcus aureus, representing 70% of cases, while 1.6% of cases are caused by S. pneumoniae. We report the first case of an HIV-infected patient with a cervical spinal epidural abscess. The patient was a 43-year-old male with pneumococcal bacteremia and a metatarsal abscess. He reported cervical pain with muscle spasm during cephalic flexion and extension, fever and a painful tumefaction on the second metatarsal of the left foot. MRI confirmed that the retropharyngeal abscess extended to the cervical spinal epidural space. Antibiotic therapy with cefotaxime plus vancomycin was initiated and a transoral surgical approach was used to achieve retropharyngeal and local debridement of the metatarsal abscess. Blood and pus cultures were positive for S. pneumoniae. After 4 months of follow-up the patient remained asymptomatic, without clinical or MRI evidence of recurrence.     

Parapharyngeal abscess is frequently associated with concomitant peritonsillar abscess

To characterize patients with parapharyngeal abscess admitted to a Danish tertiary care centre and evaluate our management. This is a retrospective chart review. All records of patients with parapharyngeal abscess admitted to the Ear-Nose-Throat Department at Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark, from January 2001 through December 2011 were reviewed. In total, 63 patients (41 males), aged 4–89 years (median, 45 years) were included in the study. The mean annual incidence of parapharyngeal abscess was 0.9 cases/100,000 population. Thirty-three (52 %) patients had concomitant peritonsillar abscess. In two patients the parapharyngeal abscess was accompanied by necrotizing fasciitis. The most frequent surgical approach used was intrapharyngeal incision in combination with tonsillectomy. The most commonly used antibiotic regimen was benzylpenicillin plus metronidazole. Seven (13 %) patients returned to the operating theatre due to post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage or insufficient abscess drainage. Tonsillectomy and internal incision of the abscess in combination with a narrow-spectrum intravenous penicillin and metronidazole is a safe and efficient approach for managing parapharyngeal abscesses. This approach, however, carries a relatively high complication rate, requiring close surveillance in the early post-operative period. This is especially true for parapharyngeal abscess patients without peritonsillar abscess. In our series, these patients were more ill, more likely to experience complications, require intensive care, intubation, and tracheotomy, than parapharyngeal abscess patients with concurrent peritonsillar abscess. The frequent co-existence of parapharyngeal abscess and peritonsillar abscess favours careful consideration of addition of tonsillectomy to intrapharyngeal incision.     

Transoral approach to drain streptococcus pneumoniae spinal epidural abscess in an HIV-infected adult

Spinal epidural abscess due to Streptococcus pneumoniae is extremely rare in adults. It typically occurs in the thoracic, lumbar or lumbosacral epidural spaces, and less frequently in the cervical epidural space. The principal causative microbial agent is Staphylococcus aureus, representing 70% of cases, while 1.6% of cases are caused by S. pneumoniae. We report the first case of an HIV-infected patient with a cervical spinal epidural abscess. The patient was a 43-year-old male with pneumococcal bacteremia and a metatarsal abscess. He reported cervical pain with muscle spasm during cephalic flexion and extension, fever and a painful tumefaction on the second metatarsal of the left foot. MRI confirmed that the retropharyngeal abscess extended to the cervical spinal epidural space. Antibiotic therapy with cefotaxime plus vancomycin was initiated and a transoral surgical approach was used to achieve retropharyngeal and local debridement of the metatarsal abscess. Blood and pus cultures were positive for S. pneumoniae. After 4 months of follow-up the patient remained asymptomatic, without clinical or MRI evidence of recurrence.     

Clinical features and management of Luc's abscess: Case report and systematic review of the literature

ObjectivesLuc's abscess is a rare complication of acute otitis media, with a challenging diagnosis and a controversial surgical treatment. The aim of the present study was to review the published literature in order to clarify the clinical features and the surgical management of those patients.MethodsA systematic review of the literature was carried out for published reports or case series in English language, describing a temporo-zygomatic (or Luc's) abscess which complicated an acute or chronic otitis media and/or mastoiditis, confirmed through CT scan or MRI of the petrous bone. The collected clinical and radiological data were merged and critically appraised.ResultsEighteen reports of Luc's abscess were included. Adding our case report, a total of 21 cases were included in the analysis. Abscess drainage plus myringotomy alone vs. abscess drainage plus myringotomy and mastoidectomy were the two surgical management approaches described in the literature. Patients undergoing first line mastoidectomy were successfully treated in all cases, while among those undergoing a more conservative approach, one failure required subsequent mastoidectomy.ConclusionsThe clinical features of Luc's abscess are rather constant and help in rising the suspicion before the radiological diagnosis. Although cases with associated intra-cranic complications have been reported, the limited existing data do not permit to advocate the mastoidectomy over a more conservative surgical approach. However, the decision to avoid mastoidectomy as the first line surgical treatment should be based on the clinical and radiologic assessment, after an accurate counseling, particularly in the case of a pediatric patient.     

Endoscopic surgery for the treatment of pediatric subperiosteal orbital abscess: A report of 10 cases

Introduction

The pediatric subperiosteal abscess is considered an infectious process characterized by an abscess pocket localized between the lamina papiracea and the periorbita. Usually the surgical management is used to drain the collection of pus.

Methods

Between January 2006 and January 2009, 10 patients of age under 18-year-old underwent through a transnasal endoscopic approach at the University of Bologna, Sant’Orsola Malpighi Hospital for the treatment of a subperiosteal orbital abscess. All these patients were taken to the operative room in order to drain the abscess only after that the CT scan was accomplished and it demonstrated the presence of a subperiosteal orbital abscess.

Results

The transnasal endoscopic approach was used alone in 9 cases while it was associated with an external approach in one case for the treatment of a superolateral based subperiosteal orbital abscess. In all cases the exudate was obtained during the surgical procedure for the microbiological examination, although only 2 out of 10 cases had positive abscess cultures for Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Conclusions

The transnasal endoscopic approach is an effective surgical treatment to drain the collection of pus in all medially based subperiosteal orbital abscess, while it can be associated with an external approach for the treatment of a superolateral based subperiosteal orbital abscess.     

Infratemporal fossa abscess: complication of maxillary sinusitis

This is a case report of a child presenting with a left-sided facial swelling with a perimaxillary infratemporal fossa abscess and maxillary sinusitis of the same side. The patient was treated by incision and drainage via a sublabial approach.     

Report of 2 cases of tuberculous retoropharygeal abscess in adults

We report 2 cases of tuberculous retoropharyngeal abscess. Case 1 was a 21-year-old man with tuberculous cervical spondylitis and pulmonary tuberculosis and Case 2 was a 32-year-old woman with tuberculous lymph adenitis and military tuberculosis. Both reported sore throat and dysphagea. In case 1, throat examination showed a bulging abscess at the posterior wall of the pharynx. X-ray examination of the neck showed a massive soft tissue swelling on the lateral view. As soon as the diagnosis was established, prompt focal aspiration was done since the increasing danger of grave respiratory distress was expected. And moreover, surgical incision and drainage of retropharyngeal abscess were indicated. In case 2, intraoral midline incision through the posterior wall of the pharynx was administered because the abscess was small and limited. Though various tuberculous statics and antibiotics are available, tuberculous retropharyngeal abscess still occurs and should be considered to ensure rapid adequate attention to diagnosis and treatment.     

Surgical management of subperiosteal abscess of the orbit

Subperiosteal abscess is generally defined as the collection of pus between the periorbita and the orbital wall, and usually results from paranasal sinus infection. Early, appropriate evaluation and management observing signs and symptoms of orbital inflammation are required to prevent blindness. We report 5 cases of subperiosteal abscess caused by paranasal sinus problems. We used endoscopic ethmoidectomy with puncture or endonasal endoscopic drainage of the abscess and found orbital complications in 4. We used conservative therapy in 1 with no visual acuity. We discuss pathogenesis and surgical indications and approaches. Three of 4 patients with mild visual acuity and treated with surgical procedure were cured without sequalae. We successfully managed the superior subperiosteal abscess with an endoscopic endonasal approach. One of 4 patients who had severe vision loss, however, was cured without any recovery of loss of vision after surgical drainage to decrease orbital pressure. The endscopic endonasal approach is more useful in managing both sinus disease and orbital complications than external ethmoidectomy.     

Nasal septal abscess and palatine process of the maxilla abscess complicating acute rhinosinusitis in a 12-year old boy

We report a case of nasal septal abscess and palatine process of the maxilla abscess secondary to acute rhinosinusitis in an 12-year-old boy. Rare complication of acute sinusitis is the nasal septum abscess; even rarer is the abscess of the palatine process of the maxilla, which our patient presented. Nasal septum abscess is an reservoir of suppurative secretion between cartilage or bone of the septum and their periostium or perichondrium. Nasal septum abscess is most often bilateral, causing nasal cavities obstruction. Other symptoms are: nasal pain, fever, headache, nasal tenderness, bad general feeling. Spontaneous abscesses of nasal septum are rare and occur due to acute ethmoid or sphenoid sinusitis and inflammations originating from teeth. Patophysiology of nasal septum abscess depends on its etiology. The isolated acute sphenoid sinusitis may lead to occurrence of nasal septum abscess by spreading of inflammatory changes under periostium along the anterior surface of sphenoid bone and damaging the periostium of vomer and perpendicular lamina of ethmoid bone into subperichondrial space of quadrangular cartilage. Inflammation of inferior wall of sphenoid sinus located over fornix of nasopharynx might have lead to appearance of the palatine process of the maxilla abscess. We consider this mechanism of abscess creation occurred in our patient. Another possible mechanism comprehends spreading of inflammatory process through bone fissures, congenital bone malformations of due to thrombophlebitis. Recommended procedure in cases of confirmed nasal septum abscess is surgical decompression from semitransverse incision of the column and abscess drainage. Aspiration and bacteriological culture allow for exact establishment of proper antibiotic treatment. Antibiotic therapy should be conducted for 2-3 weeks according to bacterial sensitivity to chemotherapeutics. In reexamination of our boy's nasal septum cavity of abscess was assessed and a small cartilage defect was noted. Necrotic changes in nasal septum cartilages arise due to ischemia and compression by residual pathological contents between perichondrium and cartilage. Proper recognition and surgical and preservative treatment lead to total recovery. In our boy, control examinations after 2 and 6 months confirmed recovery without recurrence and later complications.     

Unusual complication of parotid abscess

Temporal lobe abscess as a complication of parotid abscess is not described in the English literature. In this case report a 66-year-old gentleman is described who presented with a left-sided parotid abscess, which extended to other deep neck spaces, and advanced to develop a temporal lobe abscess and subdural parietal empyema. Treatment included intravenous antibiotics, incision and drainage of parotid abscess, and burr hole aspiration of the temporal lobe abscess. The importance of imaging to evaluate the extent of deep neck abscess and brain abscess is highlighted in this report.     

A case of spinal epidural abscess associated with retropharyngeal abscess

Spinal epidural abscesses are known to occur associated with retropharyngeal abscess, but such cases are few in the literature. We treated a 72-year-old woman who reported pain in the back of the neck. Computed tomography (CT) showed a retropharyngeal abscess extending to the upper neck through the carotid space on the left side and an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a spinal epidural abscess without cervical vertebral osteomyelitis. The abscess was assumed to reach the epidural space along the nerve root through the intervertebral foramen. Since tonsillitis appeared to cause the retropharyngeal abscess, we performed tonsillectomy, and then drained pus through the superior constrictor muscle, effecting a subsequent cure. Staphylococcus aureus was recovered from both the pus and tonsil, and Streptococcus constellatus, a member of the Streptococcus milleri group, from the tonsil. Based on a review of the literature, clinical courses of spinal epidural abscess associated with retropharyngeal abscess are not always simple, as 4 of the 7 cases found demonstrated poor prognosis. Spinal epidural abscess should be considered a critical complication of retropharyngeal abscess.     

儿童急性鼻窦炎合并肾小球肾炎及眶内脓肿一例

急性鼻窦炎是鼻腔鼻窦黏膜的急性感染性炎症。鼻窦在解剖上毗邻眼眶,鼻窦急性感染可能突破解剖屏障向眶内发展。因抗生素普遍使用,鼻窦炎眶内并发症较少见,但仍可见于抵抗力低下的儿童出眶内蜂窝织炎,甚至形成眶内脓肿,但同时并发肾小球肾炎的情况较为罕见。现报道急性鼻窦炎并发肾小球肾炎及眶内脓肿1例,简述其多学科诊治过程。     

Esophageal fish bone migration induced thyroid abscess: case report and review of the literature

A thyroid abscess is a rare condition, and it is so infrequently encountered. A migrated fish bone is a rare otolaryngologic emergency indicated when the foreign body penetrates through the esophageal mucosa into the thyroid gland space of the neck after several weeks of swallowing. We present the case of a 50-year-old woman who had fever and anterior neck painful mass. An intrathyroid abscess was diagnosed; and she underwent thyrotomy with transcervical approach. A foreign body, which proved to be a fish bone and which fortunately did not cause any adverse effects, was removed.     

Delayed intracranial abscess after acoustic neuroma surgery: a report of two cases.

OBJECTIVE: The use of antibiotics before and after surgery has made infectious complications of neurotologic surgery rare. The neurosurgical literature cites a rate of postoperative meningitis between 1% and 2% for "clean" cases and 1.5% to 2.5% for "clean contaminated" cases, such as cerebrospinal fluid contact with the middle ear or mastoid. Reports of infections after neurotologic procedures are rare in the otologic literature. In this report, two patients with brain abscess occurring in a delayed fashion after surgery are described. STUDY DESIGN: The study design was a retrospective chart review and case report. SETTING: The study was conducted at a tertiary referral center. RESULTS: Patient 1 underwent a suboccipital craniotomy for removal of an acoustic neuroma and had an uneventful postoperative recovery. Three months after surgery, he reported mild unsteadiness. Examination revealed mild ataxia, which led to repeat magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and a diagnosis of cerebellar abscess. Patient 2 underwent translabyrinthine removal of an acoustic neuroma complicated by postoperative Pseudomonas aeruginosa meningitis, which responded promptly to intravenous antibiotics. Fifteen months after surgery, he visited a neurologist after having a seizure and was treated with anticonvulsants. After a second episode of seizure, imaging studies showed a temporal lobe abscess. CONCLUSIONS: The signs of intracranial abscess may be subtle and can occur weeks or months after surgery, requiring vigilance and a high index of suspicion for diagnosis. A change in postoperative symptoms after acoustic neuroma surgery should signal further investigation using MRI with gadolinium.     

Endoscopic management of orbital abscesses

Orbital complications of sinusitis have declined in the postantibiotic era. Nonetheless, the development of a subperiosteal or intraorbital abscess remains a serious condition that is best managed through a multidisciplinary approach. Surgical management is almost always indicated when orbital collections are present, and medical therapy plays a complimentary role. The endoscopic approach of draining a medial orbital collection offers significant advantages over the traditional external approach. The preoperative and intraoperative use of computer-aided technology may be a useful adjunct in the endoscopic management of orbital abscesses.     

Retrotonsillar abscess. Diagnosis by flexible endosonography

A retrotonsillar abscess is a dangerous complication of acute tonsillitis that can be fatal if treatment is delayed. We report the pre-operative findings of flexible endosonography and transcutaneous sonography of a patient with retrotonsillar abscess. The results show, that the new digitally guided, flexible probes of endosonography improve the diagnosis of paratonsillar abscess and are superior to transcutaneous sonography especially for delineating retrotonsillar spread.     

Minimally invasive transoral catheter-assisted drainage of a danger-space infection

We report the case of a 3-year-old boy who was brought to the emergency department for evaluation of a prolonged upper respiratory infection and diminished neck movement. Computed tomography identified a unilocular abscess extending from the level of C2 inferiorly to the diaphragm at the level of the T9 vertebral body. We successfully treated this transcervical, transthoracic infection surgically via a transoral approach to the retropharyngeal abscess combined with catheter drainage and irrigation of the abscess cavity at a depth of 13 cm. At 25 months of follow-up, the patient exhibited no evidence of recurrent disease or postsurgical complications. In this article, we describe our minimally invasive technique for managing unusual deep-space neck infections in children.     

Peritonsillar abscess: a life threatening disease--diagnostic and therapeutic aspects

BACKGROUND: Acute tonsillitis is an extremely common infection seen in children and adults. In most cases, the family doctor is initially consulted. Intratonsillar, peritonsillar and retrotonsillar abscesses are frequent complications in the course of tonsillitis. In those cases, oropharyngeal infection may lead to a descending process with consecutive mediastinitis as a life-threatening condition. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We report the case of a 67-year old man who died of a mediastinitis resulting from a peritonsillar abscess. Clinical findings, radiological diagnostics and antibiotic as well as surgical therapy are illustrated. RESULTS: The patient died due to a septic multi-organic failure despite aggressive antibiotic and surgical therapy by a combined enoral and cervical approach with thoracic drainage. DISCUSSION: Peritonsillar abscess is a potentially life-threatening complication of acute tonsillitis. This must be kept in mind and should therefore lead to an adequate and directed management of this pathology. We discuss the stepwise diagnosis and therapy within the framework of scientific literature.