title: Ochrobactrum anthropi induced retropharyngeal abscess with mediastinal extension complicating airway obstruction: a case report.
abstract: Retropharyngeal abscess with involvement of mediastinal abscess represents an uncommon complication of upper respiratory tract infections. We report a case presenting with a large retropharyngeal abscess with airway obstruction as the primary presenting symptom. Contrast-enhanced CT showed a large retropharyngeal abscess in the neck with extension to the upper and posterior mediastinal spaces. The abscess was surgically excised with 200 cc pus drained from the neck and mediastinal regions. We describe this case to assist physicians in making the difficult diagnosis when confronting a patient with airway obstruction, as early recognition of retropharyngeal abscess permits emergent airway management.
authors.affiliation: Department of General and Laparoscopic Surgery, Sabya General Hospital Jazan Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Awaji Qasim
authors.initials: AQ
authors.lastname: Al-Naami
authors.affiliation: Department of General and Laparoscopic Surgery, Sabya General Hospital Jazan Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Liaqat
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ali Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Sabya General Hospital Jazan Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Yahya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ali Athlawy
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Medical Imaging, Department of Imaging and Applied Physics, Curtin University Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Zhonghua
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sun
keywords: Airway obstruction; mediastinal space; retropharyngeal abscess; treatment