Zaheerul Hassan, Farhan Akbar, Saeedullah.
Optimum treatment of peritonsillar abscess.
Pak J Otolaryngol Jan ;21(3):50-2.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to compare frequency of recovered patients of peritonsillar abscess under gone needle aspiration and incision drainage. STUDY DESIGN: Study design was Qausi-experimental. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Patients were selected from ENT out patient department of CMH Rawalpindi from Jan 2001 to Jan 2003 by nonprobability convenience sampling technique. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty patients of peritonsillar abscess were studied, they were divided into two groups of 25 patients each. Antibiotic treatment and rehydration of the patient was started simultaneously along with surgical treatment. The two surgical techniques i.e. needle aspiration and incision drainage were compared in terms of hospital stay and period of recovery. RESULTS: Incision drainage was found as superior mode of treatment. The period of recovery in cases of incision and drainage was from 5 to 9 days mean±SEM 6.16±0.28 while in cases of needle aspiration, it was from 5 to 14 days mean±SEM 7.44±0.58. CONC LUSION: Incision and drainage along with intravenous antibiotics is the optimum treatment of peritonsillar abscess. Needle aspiration should only be used to diagnose the abscess and pus taken sent for culture and sensitivity or can be used in cases where due to severe trismus mouth opening is restricted.

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