title: Retropharyngeal abscess in children: 10-year study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Retrospective analysis of all patients treated for retropharyngeal infection in a tertiary care pediatric hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Charts were reviewed for demographic data, duration of symptoms, radiologic workup, antibiotic choice, microbiologic findings, surgical approach, complications, and duration of medical therapy. Surgical findings were correlated with computed tomographic (CT) scans.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-eight patients were included in the study. Empirical intravenous clindamycin was started for a trial of conservative medical therapy. Fifty-one patients (75%) responded to medical treatment, and only 17 patients (25%) required surgical intervention. The CT scan showed a sensitivity of 43% and a specificity of 63% in this series. None of the patients with retropharyngeal infection died, had a major complication, or had a recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the current study, we propose that all patients should be given a trial of medical treatment with intravenous clindamycin. Surgery should be reserved for those who do not respond. An extensive review of the literature is presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec.
authors.forename: Basel
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Al-Sabah
authors.forename: Hashim
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bin Salleen
authors.forename: Abdulrahman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hagr
authors.forename: Jeanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Choi-Rosen
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Manoukian
authors.forename: Ted L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Tewfik
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002981:Clindamycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003710:Demography; D006760:Hospitalization; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D009333:Neck; D017703:Retropharyngeal Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000150:complications; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002981:Clindamycin