title: Pharyngoesophageal perforation 3 years after anterior cervical spine surgery: a rare case report and literature review.
abstract: Pharyngoesophageal perforation after anterior cervical spine surgery is rare and the delayed cases were more rarely reported but potentially life-threatening. We report a case of pharyngoesophageal perforation 3 years after anterior cervical spine surgery. The patient presented with dysphagia, fever, left cervical mass and developing dyspnea 3 years after cervical spine surgery for trauma. After careful examinations, he underwent an emergency tracheostomy, neck exploration, hardware removal, abscess drainage and infected tissue debridement. 14 days after surgery, CT of the neck with oral contrast demonstrated no contrast extravasation from the esophagus. Upon review of literature, only 14 cases of pharyngoesophageal perforation more than 1 year after anterior cervical spine surgery were found. We discussed possible etiology, diagnosis and management and concluded that in cases of dysphagia, dyspnea, cervical pain, swelling and edema of the cervical area even long time after anterior cervical spine surgery, potential pharyngoesophageal damage should be considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Dan-Hui
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Xin-Ming
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Mi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Qin-Lai
authors.initials: QL
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Shu-Hui
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shuang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jia-Jia
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Shi-Sheng
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D001863:Bone Screws / Q000009:adverse effects; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D003646:Debridement / Q000379:methods; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods; D004939:Esophageal Perforation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D004947:Esophagus / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009333:Neck / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D010614:Pharynx / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome