Journal of Clinical Medicine
Predictors of Treatment Failure in the Surgical Management of Peritonsillar Abscesses
By Selene Miccichè, Maddalena Fontana, Simona Rusignuolo and 5 others.
Abstract
Objectives
Peritonsillar abscess (PTA) is the most common deep neck infection and is usually managed with antibiotic therapy and surgical drainage. However, drainage may fail, leading to persistent disease, repeat intervention, tonsillectomy, or early recurrence. This study aimed to identify factors associated with drainage failure.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective single-centre study of patients admitted for PTA between 2019 and 2024. All patients underwent antibiotic therapy and surgical drainage by needle aspiration or incision and drainage. Drainage failure was defined as absence of pus evacuation, lack of clinical improvement within 72 h, need for quinsy tonsillectomy (QT), or recurrence within 30 days. Clinical and radiological variables and drainage techniques were analysed using univariate and multivariable analyses.