Neurol. praxi. 2017;18(2):109-112 | DOI: 10.36290/neu.2017.073

Dysphagia after anterior cervical discectomy

MUDr. René Opšenák, doc. MUDr. Branislav Kolarovszki, PhD., MUDr. Juraj Šutovský, MUDr. Martin Benčo, PhD., MUDr. Romana Richterová, PhD., MUDr. Pavol Snopko

Neurochirurgická klinika, JLF UK a UNM, Martin

Swallowing difficulties after anterior cervical discectomy are a common and well-known complication in the postoperative period.

Pathophysiology of dysphagia after surgery is unclear, and the treatment of persistent dysphagia is problematic. Published incidence

of dysphagia following cervical discectomy is in the range of 0–89 %, and decreases with increasing time after surgery. Factors that are

usually associated with increased risk of dysphagia after surgery include: multiple level surgery, female gender, long surgery duration

and age over 60 years. It is possible to quantify dysphagia after anterior cervical discectomy with subjective patient evaluation using

Bazaz-Yoo dysphagia score, and objectify it using videofluoroscopy and fibroscopy. Prevention of dysphagia after surgery includes:

using implants with low or zero profile, reduction of retraction time and intraoperative control of the endotracheal tube cuff pressure.

Keywords: anterior cervical discectomy, dysphagia, risk factors, prevention

Published: May 1, 2017  Show citation