Neurológia pre prax 2/2017

Dysphagia after anterior cervical discectomy

wallowing 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