title: Recurrent acute upper airway obstruction after anterior cervical fusion.
abstract: A 67-year-old man presented with cervical myelopathy for which a C3/4 discectomy and anterior fusion was performed. Recurrent episodes of acute upper airway obstruction necessitated laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation. Drainage of a prevertebral collection of CSF and surgical repair of a dural tear corrected the obstructive symptoms. Management of the difficult airway is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Monash University Department of Anaesthesia, Melbourne, Victoria.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Penberthy
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Roberts
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D004322:Drainage; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014139:Tracheostomy