Korean J Crit Care Med.  2010 Jun;25(2):107-111. 10.4266/kjccm.2010.25.2.107.

Airway Obstruction Caused by Prevertebral Soft Tissue Swelling after Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion: A Case Report

• Ku JH
• Park ES
• Lim YS

• KMID: 2228238
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4266/kjccm.2010.25.2.107

Abstract

Acute airway obstruction after anterior cervical surgery is rare, but does occur. Airway obstruction due to prevertebral soft tissue swelling is unpredictable, but potentially lethal. We managed a 67-year-old male who developed acute airway obstruction caused by marked prevertebral soft tissue swelling on the first day after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion at the C4-C5 level.

Keyword

airway obstruction; cervical fusion; prevertebral soft tissue

MeSH Terms

Aged
Airway Obstruction
Diskectomy
Humans
Male