@article{AJO5273,
author = {Ha My Ngoc Nguyen and Jordan Younes and Nicholas Tan and Ramanan Daniel},
title = {Management of peritonsillar abscess and feasibility of day-case treatment: an Australian retrospective study},
journal = {Australian Journal of Otolaryngology},
volume = {0},
number = {0},
year = {2026},
keywords = {},
abstract = {Background: A peritonsillar abscess (PTA), also known as a quinsy, is a common deep neck space infection that typically requires antimicrobial therapy and drainage. Despite its prevalence, considerable variation exists in management practices across institutions. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic increased interest in day-case models of care in order to reduce pressure on healthcare systems, prompting evaluation of same-day discharge strategies for selected patients with PTA. This study aimed to examine current trends in the management of PTA at an Australian tertiary hospital in Melbourne, Victoria, and to assess the feasibility and outcomes of day-case management.Methods: A retrospective single-centre observational cohort study was conducted in all patients diagnosed with PTA at Western Health (Melbourne, Australia) between February 2024 to February 2025. Data collected included patient demographics, clinical presentation, investigations, treatment modality, length of stay, requirement for additional interventions following initial management, and rates of re-presentation.Results: A total of 107 patients were managed for PTA during the study period. The mean age was 34.0 years [standard deviation (SD) 13.4 years], with 70 males (65.4%) and 37 females (34.6%). The median length of stay was 0.94 days [interquartile range (IQR) 0.69–1.17 days], with 62 patients (57.9%) discharged directly from the Emergency Department (ED) following initial management without requiring inpatient ward admission. Diagnosis was predominantly clinical, with computed tomography (CT) of the neck performed in 20 cases (18.7%). Incision and drainage (I&D) was performed in 96 patients (89.7%), while 11 (10.3%) underwent needle aspiration alone. Ten patients (9.3%) required further procedural intervention following initial management and nine (8.4%) re-presented within 30 days.Conclusions: While core principles of PTA management are broadly consistent with international practices, variation in management pathways persists across Australian institutions. This study demonstrates that many patients with PTA were managed with same-day discharge from the ED without high observed rates of repeat intervention or re-presentation.},
issn = {2616-2792}, url = {https://www.theajo.com/article/view/5273}
}