Successful airway management in a patient with left parapharyngeal and retropharyngeal abscess with mediastinal extension during COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Acute airway compromise caused by a deep neck space abscess significantly contributes to the morbidity and mortality, and it requires quick identification and rapid treatment.1 Parapharyngeal and retropharyngeal abscesses affect 2.64 persons out of 100,000 population. The incidence in males and females is 3.34 and 1.94 per 100,000 people, respectively.2 Of note, the abscess might increase the patient’s susceptibility to COVID-19 infection. In order to limit COVID-19 transmission in such patients, an advanced treatment plan is required.3 We share the anesthetic airway management of a high-risk airway case during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Key words: airway management; COVID-19; abscess, parapharyngeal; abscess, retropharyngeal; video-assisted thoracoscopy; Surgery, thoracic Citation: Hehsan MR, Shukeri WFWM, Chettiar RSRMS, Abidin HZ. Successful airway management in a patient with left parapharyngeal and retropharyngeal abscess with mediastinal extension during COVID-19 pandemic. Anaesth. pain intensive care 2021;26(1):128-129. DOI: 10.35975/apic.v26i1.1784