Excessive atlanto-occipital flexion as a cause of complete airway obstruction following anterior cervical spine fusion.
This report describes complete airway obstruction following anterior cervical fusion caused by extreme, fixed flexion of the neck in a halo device. The causes and treatment of such an airway complication are reviewed.
Szabo
M D
MD
Department of Anesthesia, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston 02114.
Crosby
G
G
D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology*; D001269:Atlanto-Occipital Joint / Q000473:pathology*; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D016267:External Fixators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000601:surgery; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation