AIM OSCE / OSPE • MBBS
Station 16 — Pharyngeal and Peritonsillar Abscess: Drainage and Instruments
🎯 Candidate Task
Describe the preparation and basic technique for drainage of a peritonsillar abscess and identify the important instruments used. State the use of each instrument and the major safety precautions during drainage of an upper-airway abscess.
⚡ Model Station Answer
Preparation: I would assess the airway, position the patient sitting upright, ensure good illumination and suction, and use appropriate topical and local anaesthesia.
Drainage: The abscess is localized at the peritonsillar swelling and drained by needle aspiration or a controlled incision followed by gentle opening of the cavity and suction of pus.
Instruments: Important equipment includes a tongue depressor, suction, guarded needle or scalpel and sinus/artery forceps.
Safety: Airway compromise and haemorrhage are major concerns; instrumentation should remain controlled and superficial, with readiness for suction and escalation if complications occur.
🔎 How to Perform / Approach
- Step 1 — Assess and prepare:
Confirm the patient, explain the procedure and assess for airway compromise. Ensure appropriate monitoring, illumination, suction and emergency airway support are available. - Step 2 — Position correctly:
Seat the conscious patient upright with the head supported and slightly forward so secretions or pus can drain anteriorly rather than toward the airway. - Step 3 — Expose the oropharynx:
Use a tongue depressor and good illumination to identify the unilateral peritonsillar swelling, displaced tonsil and surrounding landmarks. Apply topical and local anaesthesia as appropriate. - Step 4 — Drain the collection:
Drainage may be performed by controlled needle aspiration or incision at the appropriate point of maximal peritonsillar bulging. If incised, the opening may be gently widened with suitable forceps to allow pus to escape. - Step 5 — Suction and collect:
Keep suction immediately available to remove pus and secretions and reduce aspiration risk. A specimen may be collected for microbiological testing when clinically required. - Step 6 — Recognize the instruments:
Identify the tongue depressor for exposure, suction for clearing secretions and pus, needle and syringe for aspiration, guarded scalpel for controlled incision, and sinus or artery forceps for gentle opening of the drained cavity. - Step 7 — Reassess after drainage:
Check for bleeding, airway difficulty and clinical improvement. Continue observation and escalate urgently if respiratory compromise or significant haemorrhage develops.
🖼️ Visual Learning
Peritonsillar Abscess Drainage and Essential Instruments

📝 Important Viva Questions
1. What clinical finding commonly suggests a peritonsillar abscess?
Answer: Unilateral peritonsillar and soft-palate swelling with medial displacement of the tonsil and deviation of the uvula away from the affected side is typical.
2. Why should the patient be positioned upright during drainage?
Answer: Upright positioning improves access and helps pus and secretions drain anteriorly, reducing the risk of aspiration.
3. What are the two basic methods used to drain a peritonsillar abscess?
Answer: The collection may be drained by needle aspiration or by incision and drainage.
4. What is the purpose of sinus or artery forceps during incision and drainage?
Answer: They are used for gentle blunt opening of the incision to facilitate drainage of the abscess cavity rather than for deep cutting.
5. What major complications must be anticipated during peritonsillar abscess drainage?
Answer: Important immediate risks are airway compromise, aspiration of pus or blood and haemorrhage from injury to nearby vascular structures.
