Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41909984›Full record

ArticleThe Journal of laryngology and otology2026

Prognostic factors in the management of paediatric patients with retropharyngeal and parapharyngeal infections.

Kerry Hu, Maryam Sattar Othman, Jacob Davidson, Julie Strychowsky, M Elise Graham, Murad Husein, Josee Paradis, Keng Yeow Tay, Andrew Leung, Peng You

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In one paragraph

Article in The Journal of laryngology and otology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Kerry HuSchulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontariohttps://ror.org/02grkyz14, London, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0751-8625
Maryam Sattar OthmanSchulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontariohttps://ror.org/02grkyz14, London, Canada.
Jacob DavidsonDivision of Pediatric Surgery, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western Universityhttps://ror.org/02grkyz14, London, ON, Canada.
Julie StrychowskyDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western Universityhttps://ror.org/02grkyz14, London, ON, Canada.
M Elise GrahamDivision of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Dalhousie Universityhttps://ror.org/01e6qks80, Halifax, NS, Canada.
Murad HuseinDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western Universityhttps://ror.org/02grkyz14, London, ON, Canada.
Josee ParadisDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western Universityhttps://ror.org/02grkyz14, London, ON, Canada.
Keng Yeow TayDepartment of Medical Imaging, Victoria Hospital, London Health Sciences Centrehttps://ror.org/037tz0e16, ON, Canada.
Andrew LeungDepartment of Medical Imaging, Victoria Hospital, London Health Sciences Centrehttps://ror.org/037tz0e16, ON, Canada.
Peng YouSchulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontariohttps://ror.org/02grkyz14, London, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDeep neck space infections are uncommon but potentially life-threatening conditions with variable presentation in children without clear indications for medical versus surgical management. This study aimed to identify predictors of surgical intervention.

methodsA retrospective review was conducted of paediatric patients with deep neck space infections at a tertiary centre between 2014 and 2024. Patients were grouped by treatment approach: medical therapy, primary surgery or surgery following medical therapy. Clinical, radiological and outcome variables were analysed to identify predictors of surgical intervention.

resultsNinety-two patients were included: 51.1 per cent were managed successfully with antibiotics alone, and 48.9 per cent required surgery initially or after medical trial. Independent predictors of surgical intervention included younger age, fever (< 38.0° Celsius) at presentation, computed tomography confirmed abscess and cross-sectional area greater than 3.00 cm

conclusionMost deep neck infections respond to medical management, though younger age, fever and larger abscess size should prompt consideration for surgical consideration.

Indexed as

AbscessAnti-Bacterial AgentsParapharyngeal SpacePharyngeal DiseasesRetropharyngeal AbscessAdolescentAge FactorsChildChild, PreschoolDrainageFemaleHumansInfantMaleNeckPrognosisAnti-Bacterial Agentsdeep neck space infectionspaediatric infectionsparapharyngeal abscessretropharyngeal abscesssurgical intervention

Identifiers

PMID41909984
PMCPMC13443427

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.