ear, nose, and throat disorders
How To Drain a Peritonsillar Abscess
Contraindications to Draining a Peritonsillar Abscess
Absolute contraindications Intractable trismus Relative contraindications Poor patient cooperation Coagulopathy Uncertain diagnosis (for incision and drainage) If the diagnosis is uncertain, point-of-care ultrasound or needle aspiration can be done to confirm the presence of an abscess. Alternatives include CT scan or, for mildly ill patients, discharge on antibiotics with close follow-up. 