Table 1.
Summary of Selected Case Series of Esophageal Injuries Following Anterior Cervical Spine Surgery.
| Author | Year | Cases (n) | Location at C5-C7 | Male | Time to Diagnosis | Treatment | Hospital Stay (Days) | Flaps | Mortality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rueth et al | 2010 | 6 | — | 100% | <1 week (n = 2); delayed (n = 4) | Abx, NPO, surgical repair, and multiple debridements | 40 | 17% | 17% |
| Fountas et al | 2007 | 3 | — | — | Intraoperative (n = 2); day 2 (n = 1) | Abx, NPO, surgical repair, and debridement | — | 0% | 33% |
| Gaudinez et al | 2000 | 44 | — | 100% | — | Abx, NPO, surgical repair, and debridement (42/44) | 253 | — | 5% |
| Newhouse et al | 2009 | 22 | 11/16 | 70% (14/20); 2 unknown | Intraoperative (n = 7) | Abx, NPO, surgical repair, and debridement (20/22) | — | — | 5% |
| Patel et al | 2008 | 3 | 3/3 | 33% | <3 days (n = 2); 1 month (n = 1) | Abx, NPO, surgical repair, and debridement | — | 33% | 0% |
| Lu et al | 2012 | 6 | 6/6 | 66% | Intraoperative (n = 1); <3 weeks (n = 3); >3 years (n = 2) | Abx, NPO, surgical repair, and debridement | — | 0% | 0% |
| Zhong et al | 2013 | 6 | 5/6 | 100% | <1 week (n = 6) | Abx, NPO (6/6); surgical debridement (3/6); surgical repair (2/6) | — | 0% | 17% |
Abbreviations: Abx, antibiotics; NPO, nil per os (nothing by mouth).