Role of point-of-care ultrasound in emergency airway management for a patient with deep neck abscess

Deep neck abscesses are infections of potential spaces of the neck and pose significant morbidity due to their proximity to critical structures such as the airway. A man presented to the emergency room with difficulty breathing and neck swelling. A 70° endoscopic examination of the larynx revealed diffuse laryngeal oedema, with multiple pus pockets surrounding a large, floppy, oedematous epiglottis. Since securing the airway was challenging and the patient was in respiratory distress, ultrasound-guided aspiration of pus was performed, and about 50 mL of pus was aspirated. After pus aspiration, the patient’s respiratory distress was relieved, and he could lie supine. The airway was secured by direct laryngoscopy, and the otolaryngologist did further drainage of the deep-seated abscess. Point-of-care ultrasound is important in the airway management of a patient with deep neck abscess. Ultrasound-guided aspiration of pus helps decrease airway oedema, making the intubation process less challenging.