Airway Obstruction Caused by Soft Tissue Edema during an Anterior Cervical Approach: A Case Report.
10.4055/jkoa.2009.44.1.136
- Author:
Bong Ju PARK
1
;
Byung Wan CHOI
;
Ji Hoon CHANG
Author Information
1. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Gwangju Veterans Hospital, Gwangju, Korea. alla1013@naver.com
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Airway obstruction;
Soft tissue edema;
Anterior cervical spine approach
- MeSH:
Airway Obstruction;
Decompression;
Edema;
Hematoma;
Respiratory Insufficiency;
Spine
- From:The Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
2009;44(1):136-140
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Anterior approaches to the cervical spine for performing decompression, fusion and/or instrumentation are common and useful methods for treating many conditions, including degenerative diseases. One of the rare, but serious complications of an anterior cervical approach is respiratory insufficiency as a result of upper airway obstruction, which is due to airway narrowing and prevertebral soft tissue swelling. We experienced a case of serious airway obstruction that was caused by soft tissue edema combined with postoperative hematoma after an anterior cervical spine approach. We report here on this case and include a review of the relevant literature.
