Successful Treatment of a Toddler with Significant Airway Obstruction and Septic Shock Due to a Pharyngeal Abscess: A Case Report

Abstract

We report a rare case of posterior pharyngeal wall abscess in a pediatric patient presenting with severe airway obstruction and septic shock. A girl admitted with oral ulcers and fever developed respiratory distress, and a CT scan on day six revealed a retropharyngeal abscess causing airway obstruction and septic shock. Emergency surgery successfully drained the abscess, avoiding major invasive procedures like tracheotomy. The patient recovered fully, extubated on day nine and discharged on day fifteen. This case highlights the critical importance of improving treatment success rates for pediatric patients with posterior pharyngeal wall abscesses, emphasizing the need for heightened awareness and proactive management strategies among clinicians.

Key Words：Absence in the posterior pharyngeal wall；Severe blockage of the airways；Septic shock；Toddlers；