A Case of Infantile Retropharyngeal Abscess: Anesthetic Approach to Critical Airway – A Case Report

Retropharyngeal abscess (RPA) is a deep space neck infection that may present with nonspecific symptoms and signs, leading to life-threatening complications.Retropharyngeal abscess in the paediatric age group is particularly challenging and requires special skills and equipment.We report the anesthetic management of a 7-month old child who presented to the hospital with respiratory distress due to RPA and was scheduled for incision and drainage under general anesthesia.The use of flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope in spontaneously breathing patient, along with intraoperative ultrasonography, aided decision making for airway management.We highlight the challenges encountered while managing a large abscess compressing on the airway, where neither the percutaneous nor the intraoral technique could completely drain the abscess, posing a significant dilemma for the anesthesiologist.