Anaesthetic management of retropharyngeal abscess in a 65-year-old with coronary heart disease following instrumental trauma: A case report

• Author Details:   
• Gayathri Ramanathan ^*
• Venkata Sai Krishna Praneeth Koneru
• Krishnasamy Yuvaraj Aravindhan

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The use of antibiotics has significantly decreased the occurrence of retropharyngeal abscesses, making them uncommon in adults. However, recent case reports highlight the rapid progression and severe complications associated with this condition, underscoring the importance of prompt intervention. We present the case of a 65-year-old male who developed acute difficulty swallowing and breathing just two days following the extraction of a foreign body—a sapodilla seed. Emergency imaging, including neck X-rays and CT scans, confirmed the diagnosis of a retropharyngeal abscess. The patient was urgently scheduled for incision and drainage. This case report discusses the anaesthetic management strategy employed, with particular attention to the challenges posed by the patient's underlying coronary heart disease.

Keywords: Retropharyngeal abscess, Coronary heart disease, Foreign body trauma, Sapodilla seed, Incision and drainage, Instrumental trauma.