![Photo1_Macbladesm](https://i0.wp.com/www.aliem.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Photo1_Macbladesm.jpg?resize=350%2C208&ssl=1)
Trick of the Trade: Peritonsillar abscess aspiration technique
Have an assistant apply negative pressure to a syringe connected to the needle using IV tubing
Build a kit similar to the butterfly phlebotomy setup (above drawing).
- Attach IV extension tubing to the spinal needle.
- Attach the other end of the IV tubing to the syringe.
- Ask the assistant to apply negative pressure on the syringe once you have penetrated the oral mucosal surface.
- Now you can focus on just directing the needle to the appropriate area.
If you don’t have an assistant, you can also rig a vacutainer hub to the end of the extension tubing, again similar to a phlebotomy set up. Just imagine the same setup as below except with a spinal needle at the end instead of a butterfly needle.
Thanks to Dr. Nick Kanaan (Stanford-Kaiser EM co-chief resident) for telling me about his trick.
Photo #1 courtesy of Dr. Hagop Afarian (Fresno)