title: Postoperative respiratory difficulty due to asymptomatic anterior cervical osteophyte after brain tumor surgery: a case report.
abstract: Anterior cervical osteophytes are commonly found in elderly patients, but rarely produce symptoms. When symptoms occur, they can range from mild symptoms of dysphagia, dysphonia, and foreign body sensation to severe symptoms of airway obstruction due to compression of the pharynx or larynx. We report the case of a 59-year-old man who underwent brain tumor surgery, and developed post-operative respiratory difficulty due to progressive pharyngo-laryngeal edema, requiring urgent endotracheal intubation, secondary to the presence of a previously asymptomatic anterior cervical osteophyte. It is paramount to recognize that asymptomatic anterior cervical osteophytes are a potential cause of life-threatening post-operative respiratory complications that can rapidly progress to life-threatening airway obstruction after surgeries in the prone position, especially in elderly patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hye Won
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3770-6675
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Joon Chul
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5933-277X
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyong Hwan
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7627-2027
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Min Kyung
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6679-3184
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Go Eun
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7026-9775
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Uk
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3609-2253
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Yong
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0490-1987
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Park
keywords: Airway; Anterior osteophyte; Prone position; Respiratory difficulty