Anterior Cervical Infections: Complications of Transtracheal Aspirations 1,2

Abstract

Transtracheal aspiration (TTA) is a valuable technique for diagnosis of pulmonary infections. Three patients seen in one year with anterior cervical infection, a rarely reported complication of TTA, are summarized. The bacteriologic diagnosis can be determined by aspiration of the cervical infection, but treatment may anticipate cultural results because the pathogens in these cases are the same as those recovered earlier from the tracheobronchial tree. The anterior neck should be examined after TTA, for a month or more in some instances. Patients with infections in this area should be queried regarding previous TTA.