Peritonsillar abscess drainage in the ED continues to be one of my favorite procedures to perform. There are several tricks to increase your chances for a successful aspiration. One trick involves using a curved laryngoscope to help depress the tongue AND provide a bright light source.
What if you don't have a laryngoscope readily available?
Trick of the Trade:
Use a fiberoptically-lit, plastic pelvic speculum
- Slide off the top of the plastic pelvic speculum
- Attach the fiberoptic light source.
- Use as a lighted tongue depressor!
