Hemothorax as a complication after anterior cervical discectomy: case report.
OBJECTIVE
Anterior cervical discectomy is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures of the cervical spine.


METHODS
We describe a patient with a postoperative hemothorax as a complication after an anterior cervical discectomy.


METHODS
The patient was intubated, and reoperation and bronchoscopy were performed.


CONCLUSIONS
To the best of our knowledge, such a complication has not been described before in the English-language literature. We conclude that hemothorax is a rare, although serious, complication after anterior cervical discectomy and should be included in the differential diagnosis for patients with respiratory failure after an anterior cervical discectomy.
Harhangi
B Sanjay
BS
Department of Neurosurgery, Westeinde Hospital, The Hague, The Netherlands. b.s.harhangi@erasmusmc.nl
Menovsky
Tomas
T
Wurzer
Hans A L
HA
D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D017586:Diskectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006491:Hemothorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome