Prevertebral thoracic abscess in neonate- a previously unknown cause of respiratory failure in neonates: a case report

Authors

  • Pragya D. Sharma Department of Neonatology, Manipal Hospital, Old Airport Road, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
  • Ranganatha A. Devaranavadagi Department of Neonatology, Manipal Hospital, Old Airport Road, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
  • Netra S. Kannur Department of Neonatology, Manipal Hospital, Old Airport Road, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
  • Karthik Nagesh Department of Neonatology, Manipal Hospital, Old Airport Road, Bangalore, Karnataka, India https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8085-1539

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2349-3291.ijcp20241374

Keywords:

Prevertebral thoracic abscess, Neonates, Respiratory failure

Abstract

A prevertebral abscess is one of the serious infections of the prevertebral space. Prevertebral abscess cases are reported in children and adults. However, it has not been reported in neonates to date, and our team report a case of prevertebral abscess in a 17-day-old baby. A previously healthy term neonate with no antecedent risk factors and an evident source of infection presented with respiratory failure and repeated extubation failures. On evaluation, bronchoscopy revealed antero-posterior collapse of the trachea; further evaluation by computed tomography scan revealed a prevertebral thoracic abscess which was compressing the trachea. Surgical drainage and IV antibiotics led to complete resolution, and the neonate is doing well on follow-up. Prevertebral thoracic abscess is an uncommon cause of airway compression in the neonates. It is important to consider in the differential diagnosis of airway compression.

 

 

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Oliver ER, Gillespie MB. Deep Neck Space Infections. In: Flint PW, Haughey BH, Lund VJ, et al. Cummings Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. 5th ed. Philadelphia: Mosby Elsevier; 2010: 201-208.

Patel AA, Madigan L, Poelstra KA, Whang PG, Vaccaro AR, Harrop JS. Acute cervical osteomyelitis and prevertebral abscess after routine tonsillectomy. Spine J. 2008;8(5):827-30.

Thomason TS, Brenski A, McClay J, Ehmer D. The rising incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in pediatric neck abscesses. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2007;137(3):459-64.

Reynolds SC, Chow AW. Severe soft tissue infections of the head and neck: a primer for critical care physicians. Lung. 2009;187(5):271-9.

Reihsaus E, Waldbaur H, Seeling W. Spinal epidural abscess: a meta-analysis of 915 patients. Neurosurg Rev. 2000;23(4):175-204.

Darouiche RO. Spinal epidural abscess. N Engl J Med. 2006;355(19):2012-20.

Davis WL, Harnsberger HR, Smoker WR, Watanabe AS. Retropharyngeal space: evaluation of normal anatomy and diseases with CT and MR imaging. Radiology. 1990;174(1):59-64.

Manmathan R, Kumanan T, Pradeepan JA. Acinetobacter Prevertebral Abscess: Presenting as Dysphagia in a Diabetic Patient. Case Rep Infect Dis. 2018;2018:6051641.

Sahoo SK, Kamat S. Prevertebral abscess and airway obstruction. Saudi J Anaesth. 2017;11(2):237-8.

Jalisi S, Sakai O, Jamal BT, Mardirossian V. Features of Prevertebral Disease in Patients Presenting to a Head and Neck Surgery Clinic with Neck Pain. Ann Maxillofac Surg. 2017;7(2):228-31.

Larawin V, Naipao J, Dubey SP. Head and neck space infections. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2006;135(6):889-93.

Ridder GJ, Technau-Ihling K, Sander A, Boedeker CC. Spectrum and management of deep neck space infections: an 8-year experience of 234 cases. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2005;133(5):709-14.

Downloads

Published

2024-05-27

How to Cite

Sharma, P. D., Devaranavadagi, R. A., Kannur, N. S., & Nagesh, K. (2024). Prevertebral thoracic abscess in neonate- a previously unknown cause of respiratory failure in neonates: a case report. International Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics, 11(6), 839–842. https://doi.org/10.18203/2349-3291.ijcp20241374

Issue

Section

Case Reports