title: Esophageal perforation after anterior cervical surgery: a review of the literature for over half a century with a demonstrative case and a proposed novel algorithm.
abstract: To review relevant data for the management of esophageal perforation after anterior cervical surgery.
  
  
  
  A case of delayed esophageal perforation after anterior cervical surgery has been presented and the relevant literature between 1958 and 2014 was reviewed. A total of 57 papers regarding esophageal perforation following anterior cervical surgery were found and utilized in this review.
  
  
  
  The treatment options for esophageal perforation after anterior cervical surgery were discussed and a novel management algorithm was proposed.
  
  
  
  Following anterior cervical surgery, patients should be closely followed up in the postoperative period for risk of esophageal perforation. Development of symptoms like dysphagia, pneumonia, fever, odynophagia, hoarseness, weight loss, and breathing difficulty in patients with a history of previous anterior cervical surgery should alert us for a possible esophageal injury. Review of the literature revealed that conservative treatment is advocated for early and small esophageal perforations. Surgical treatment may be considered for large esophageal defects.
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Near East University, Lefkosa, Mersin 10, Turkey.
authors: Ferhat
authors: F
authors: Harman
authors: Marmara University, Institute of Neurological Sciences, P.K.53, Basibuyuk-Maltepe, 34840, Istanbul, Turkey. erkankaptanoglu@gmail.com.
authors: Erkan
authors: E
authors: Kaptanoglu
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Oncology Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Askin Esen
authors: AE
authors: Hasturk
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D004939:Esophageal Perforation / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology; D006685:Hoarseness / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion
keywords: Abscess; Algorithms; Anterior cervical surgery; Esophageal perforation; Spinal fusion