title: Airway compromise due to laryngopharyngeal edema after anterior cervical spine surgery.
abstract: Postoperative airway compromise due to laryngopharyngeal edema is a potentially serious adverse event associated with anterior cervical spine surgery. The reported incidence of this complication has varied from 1.2% to 6.1%, with a higher incidence following multi-level surgery. The relevant literature on airway compromise following anterior cervical spine surgery is reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI 02905, USA. mpalmd@aol.com
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Palumbo
authors.forename: Jessica Pelow
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Aidlen
authors.forename: Alan H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Daniels
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bianco
authors.forename: Joseph M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Caiati
mesh_terms: D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000379:methods; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D004487:Edema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007013:Hypopharynx; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors