A Study on Tracheal Intubation Technique in Six Patients with Deep Neck Abscesses

Abstract

Deep neck abscess causes cervical swelling, swallowing difficulty and opening disorder and becomes a severe emergency life-threatening disease when the inflammation reaches the mediastinum. In addition to antimicrobial drug administration, abscess incision and drainage under general anesthesia is often required early, but airway condition should be evaluated in advance and considered before induction. Between August 2017 and April 2018, six adult patients（2 men and 4 women）underwent general anesthesia for deep neck abscess incision and drainage. Three patients underwent nasal intubation while conscious due to opening disorder and upper airway narrowing, with one being orally intubated while conscious and two being orally intubated under general anesthesia. A flow chart in our hospital was created focusing on the results of these six patients with or without an opening disorder and upper airway narrowing.