title: The treatment of pharyngoesophageal perforation following anterior cervical spine intervention.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to investigate the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in pharyngoesophageal perforation (PEP) following anterior cervical spine intervention (ACSI).
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed the records of four patients with PEP after ACSI. Symptoms, physical examination findings, imaging results, treatment, and follow-up characteristics were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All four patients had undergone ACSI for either cervical trauma or cervical disc herniation with cervical cage reconstruction. Symptoms developed within the first 10 days of the postoperative period in three patients, and in the eighth month in one patient. Mucosal defects were detected during neck exploration in three patients. Reconstruction with primary suture and a local muscle flap was utilized in two patients. Three patients were discharged 3-8 weeks after surgical treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In cases of PEP after ACSI, a good prognosis can be achieved when symptoms are detected in the early period and reconstruction with local muscle flap is applied.
authors.affiliation: Dokuz Eylul University School of Medicine, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Izmir, Turkey. Electronic address: mustafa.aslier@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aslıer
authors.affiliation: Dokuz Eylul University School of Medicine, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ersoy
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Doğan
authors.affiliation: Dokuz Eylul University School of Medicine, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mustafa Cenk
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Ecevit
authors.affiliation: Dokuz Eylul University School of Medicine, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Taner Kemal
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Erdağ
authors.affiliation: Dokuz Eylul University School of Medicine, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet Omer
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Ikiz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D004939:Esophageal Perforation / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000601:surgery; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000637:transplantation*; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D010614:Pharynx / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cervical vertebrae; Esophageal perforation; Esophageal trauma; Surgical flap