Table 3.
Postoperative complications.
| Complication | Total |
1-Levels |
2-Levels |
|---|---|---|---|
| (n = 106) | (n = 76) | (n = 30) | |
| Reintubation | 0.0% (0) | 0.0% (0) | 0.0% (0) |
| Urinary Retention | 0.0% (0) | 0.0% (0) | 0.0% (0) |
| Urinary Tract Infection | 0.0% (0) | 0.0% (0) | 0.0% (0) |
| Acute Renal Failure | 0.0% (0) | 0.0% (0) | 0.0% (0) |
| Postoperative Anemia | 0.0% (0) | 0.0% (0) | 0.0% (0) |
| Altered Mental Status | 0.0% (0) | 0.0% (0) | 0.0% (0) |
| Venous Thromboembolism | 0.0% (0) | 0.0% (0) | 0.0% (0) |
| Pulmonary Embolism | 0.0% (0) | 0.0% (0) | 0.0% (0) |
| Pneumothorax | 0.0% (0) | 0.0% (0) | 0.0% (0) |
| Atelectasis | 0.0% (0) | 0.0% (0) | 0.0% (0) |
| Pleural Effusion | 0.0% (0) | 0.0% (0) | 0.0% (0) |
| Arrhythmia | 0.0% (0) | 0.0% (0) | 0.0% (0) |
| Ileus | 0.0% (0) | 0.0% (0) | 0.0% (0) |
| Nausea and Vomiting | 1.9% (2) | 1.3% (1) | 3.6% (1) |
| Seizure∗ | 0.9% (1) | 1.3% (1) | 0.0% (0) |
| Hematoma∗ | 0.9% (1) | 1.3% (1) | 0.0% (0) |
| Transient Dysphagia∗ | 4.7% (5) | 1.3% (1) | 13.3% (4) |
| Fever of Unknown Origin | 0.0% (0) | 0.0% (0) | 0.0% (0) |
| Overall | 8.5% (9) | 5.3% (4) | 16.7% (5) |
| ∗Summary of Complications | |||
| Seizure: 1 patient who had single-level CDR at C6–C7 was noted having elevated temperatures in the recovery room, and subsequently had an episode of a seizure secondary to serotonin syndrome. Patient was reintubated and emergently transferred to the nearest hospital. Patient was treated for serotonin syndrome and extubated and discharged the following day. | |||
| Hematoma: 1 patient who underwent two-level CDR at C5–C7 developed hematoma 5 days following surgery. Patient was readmitted to hospital for revision surgery for placement of cervical drain. Patient was discharged 2 days following placement of the drain. | |||
| Transient Dysphagia: 5 patients reported mild to moderate dysphagia on POD 1. 4 of these reports were for two-level cases. At the 6-week follow-up timepoint all reports of dysphagia were completely resolved. | |||