A Clinical Comparison of Needle Aspiration versus Incision and Drainage among Patients with Peritonsillar Abscess

Abstract

Objective: To compare the outcomes between needles aspiration versus incision and drainage for the management of peritonsillar abscess.

Methodology: This comparative study was carried out at the ENT department at Liaquat University Hospital, Hyderabad, from December 2021 to November 2022. Patients presenting with peritonsillar abscess, both genders and 12 years and above age were included. Under appropriate local anesthesia, a small curvilinear incision was made in the mucosa with a guarded quinsy knife to prevent a deep incision, over the most fluctuant part of the swelling and blunt curved artery forceps was placed into the wound and spread until adequate drainage was achieved, whereas needle aspiration was performed with a wide bore 14-gauge cannula at the site of maximum swelling and pus was aspirated or drained. Outcome was compared in terms of hospital stay, post-operative pain, and recurrence of abscess in both procedures. SPSS version 26 was used for the data analysis.

Results: Overall 36 cases peritonsillar abscess were comparatively studied as per management procedure, with overall mean age of the patients was 20.48+5.60 years and male predominance (58.3%). Average duration of onset was lower 5.22+0.87 minutes in needle aspiration group compared to the in incision and drainage group as s6.16+1.92 minutes, (p-0.069). The pain intensity was almost similar in both surgical procedures (p=0.324), while Hospital stay was significantly lower in needle aspiration group compared to the in incision and drainage group (p-0.001). There no any case found with recurrences during study period in both study groups (p>0.05).

Conclusion: The needle aspiration and incision and drainage, both observed to be effective, with favorable tendency to needle aspiration as more simple, non-invasive and effective procedure in terms of less pain and less hospital duration among cases presented with peritonsillar abscess.