Retropharyngeal abscess - A complication of laryngeal mask airway

Life threatening abscess in the visceral space with penicillin and metronidazole resistant Prevotella Denticola following use of a laryngeal mask airway: case report

Background

Laryngeal mask airways (LMA) are commonly used for airway management. Complications with this device are rare. However, when they do occur, there is a high risk for respiratory problems, necessitating early diagnosis and treatment. We present the first case of a life-threatening abscess spreading in the visceral space caused by a penicillin and metronidazole resistant Prevotella Denticola after the use of an LMA.

Case presentation

A female patient was admitted to our day care centre for bunion surgery. A single use LMA size 3 (Solus®, intersurgical, Wokingham, Berkshire, United Kingdom) was successfully inserted. After surgery, the patient complained of a sore throat and amoxicillin was prescribed by the general practitioner. Three days after surgery the patient was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for obstructive breathing, due to an abscess in the visceral space. Retropharyngeal and certainly parapharyngeal abscesses in adults are already rare. This case however, is unique because it is the first case of abscess spreading into the visceral space after the use of an LMA. Amoxicillin/clavulanate and vancomycin were started. The abscess was incised 5 days later and microbiology showed 3 positive cultures of the anaerobe Prevotella denticola, resistant for penicillin and metronidazole, but sensitive for amoxicillin/clavulanate. The patient fully recovered.

Conclusion

LMA’s are easy to use and are established, safe tools to support ventilation of the airway. In this case, the authors hypothesise a small wound in the lateral pharyngeal wall probably created an opening into the visceral space causing infection with Prevotella denticola, supporting the idea that the pharyngeal mucosal space must be part of the visceral space. Additionally, early recognition and treatment of an LMA induced abscess is necessary to prevent evolution of complications leading to airway obstruction.

Case Report of an open Neck Procedure Complication Associated with Laryngeal Mask Airway Use

INTRODUCTION

The laryngeal mask airway (LMA) is a safe method to establish airway control during general anaesthesia. In otolaryngology surgery, the use of a LMA is well established in ear surgery; however, the use of a LMA during open neck procedures remains controversial. We report a case in which the pharyngeal distortion by the LMA cuff resulted in an iatrogenic complication.

CASE REPORT

A 38-year-old female with a background of multiple myeloma was referred to the otolaryngology team for an open cervical lymph node biopsy. The patient was in remission after a 2 year post chemotherapy treatment, but now presented with a 4-week history of persistent nodal enlargement. During the elective procedure, pharyngeal distortion from the laryngeal airway mask used for airway management resulted in an iatrogenic pharyngeal injury. This case is reported to highlight the importance of communication between the surgeon and anesthetist about the mode of airway management in open neck surgery.

CONCLUSION

Communication between the otolaryngologist and anesthetist is pertinent when selecting the method of airway management in open neck procedures. A LMA should be used with caution during open neck procedures, with the surgeon recognizing the potential for pharyngeal distortion.

Parapharyngeal abscess following use of a laryngeal mask airway during open revision septorhinoplasty

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Laryngeal mask airways have a high rate of success and low rate of complications.

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Parapharyngeal abscesses have not been recently published following LMA use.

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We report a parapharyngeal abscess after uncomplicated LMA use following atraumatic insertion.

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Pressure necrosis from over-inflation is thought to have perforated the pyriform fossa.

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The perforation created a communication into the parapharyngeal space causing infection.

Introduction

A laryngeal mask airway (LMA) is an established safe tool to support the airway during surgery under general anesthetic. It is commonly used both in North America and abroad. Complications with this device are rare.

Presentation of case

A 50-year old female developed a parapharyngeal neck abscess following an uneventful septorhinoplasty during use of an LMA Classic. The patient had symptoms of pain and difficulty swallowing. CT revealed extensive soft tissue edema and swelling in the right and posterior neck involving the right parapharyngeal space, right parotid space, minimal involvement of the right submandibular space, and extending across the retropharyngeal space. The abscess was incised and drained with an open approach, combined with laryngoscopy to evaluate the site of the infection at the right pyriform fossa. The patient fully recovered following discharge.

Discussion

Despite the rare incidence of LMA injuries, early recognition of parapharyngeal neck abscesses can initiate early treatment and prevention of spread to retropharyngeal space where airway obstruction and emergent complications may occur.

Conclusion

Laryngeal mask airways have a high rate of success and low rate of complications. In this reported case, pressure necrosis from over-inflation of the LMA is thought to have perforated the right pyriform fossa. The perforation created a communication into the parapharyngeal space causing infection. We report this case to highlight the importance of identifying possible complications associated with a routine method of airway management during shared airway surgeries.