Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 7/13/2009

Question
My husband had anterior cervical fusion on June 4, 2009.  He was released from the hosp on the 6th of June at which time he was able to eat.  On the 7th he started losing his voice and could not swallow very well.  On the 8th he was readmitted to the hosp. since he could not talk or swallow anything.  He was in the hosp till the 25 of June and was released with a PICC in his arm  He still cannot swallow except for a little water and some crushed ice if he lets it dissolve.  We are at our wits end and have been told that this will eventually get better with time. No one has said how much time.  Our internist is opting for a PEG but our surgeon doesn't want to rush into anything.  We are afraid of a PEG since it has to stay in for 8 weeks.  Do you think any of the could have been related to the anesthesiology?  Please give me any input you may have. This has been going  on for 5 weeks.  Thanks for your time.

Judy

Answer
I can almost assure you this is not related to anesthesia. If I had to guess (not having seen the patient or xrays) that he either developed a hematoma after surgery or they injured the nerves in his neck that control the larynx. Has he been seen by an ENT specialist? That would be my first recommendation to make sure the laryngeal nerves are functioning.

Ronald Levy, MD
Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston