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. 2002 Sep;78(923):545–547. doi: 10.1136/pmj.78.923.545

National audit of the management of peritonsillar abscess

H Mehanna 1, L Al-Bahnasawi 1, A White 1
PMCID: PMC1742491  PMID: 12357017

Abstract

An anonymous postal survey of 200 consultants was used to audit the current prevalent practices in the management of quinsy in the UK; 101 responded. The findings reveal that on average an otolaryngology department treats 29 cases per year, the vast majority (94%) on an inpatient basis. The main initial treatment was needle aspiration combined with intravenous antibiotics. Interestingly, those departments treating more than 20 cases a year are more likely to use needle aspiration, while departments in England and Wales use significantly more incision and drainage than those in Scotland. Incision and drainage (52%) was the most common form of treatment of non-resolving patients. The median hospital stay was two days.

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Selected References

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