title: Large retropharyngeal cold abscess in an adult with respiratory distress.
abstract: A rare case of an adult with a large retropharyngeal cold abscess completely obstructing the airway and causing acute respiratory distress is presented. An urgent tracheostomy to safeguard the airway was required. The clinical features, surgical anatomy, aetiopathogenesis and management of a retropharyngeal abscess are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Get Well Hospital, Indore (M.P.), India.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Bhargava
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gupta
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000328:Adult; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D014140:Tracheotomy; D014399:Tuberculosis, Spinal / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging