Minimally invasive transoral image-guided drainage of a retropharyngeal abscess with mediastinal extension.

Retropharyngeal abscess (RPA) in children is a serious deep neck space infection that rarely is complicated by extension into the mediastinum. RPA with mediastinal abscess requires prompt surgical management, generally via external or transoral approach. We present the case of a 3-year-old boy with RPA with mediastinal extension who was managed with a unique multidisciplinary surgical approach with otolaryngology and interventional radiology. A transoral approach was utilized to pass a transnasal drain with image guidance into the mediastinal fluid collection. This report reviews the presentation and surgical management of RPA with mediastinal extension and describes a unique minimally invasive approach to drainage.