Which procedure is commonly used to drain a peritonsillar abscess?

• A. Needle aspiration
• B. Laryngoscopy
• C. Tonsillectomy
• D. Myringotomy

Answer: (A)

Drainage of a peritonsillar abscess is achieved most efficiently by removing the purulent material directly from the peritonsillar space, and doing this with a quick needle aspiration is the most common approach. The abscess sits just around the tonsil, so inserting a small-gauge needle under local anesthesia through the mucosa into the fluctuant area allows rapid decompression, relief of pain and obstruction, and improvement in swallowing. It can be done in an outpatient setting or emergency department, is minimally invasive, and carries a lower risk than more extensive surgery. If the pus is thick or the collection is not easily aspirated, a small incision and drainage can be performed, but needle aspiration remains the typical first-line drainage method.

Laryngoscopy is about visualizing the larynx and airway rather than draining the abscess. A tonsillectomy involves removing the tonsils and is not the usual method for immediate drainage of a peritonsillar abscess, though it may be considered later in selected cases (such as recurrent infections or failure of drainage). A myringotomy is a procedure for draining the middle ear, not the peritonsillar space.