Chronic intermittent tachycardia as a consequence of vagus nerve injury after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: case report of a previously unreported complication
Background: The surgical approach of an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) navigates many important neurologic and vascular structures in the neck. More frequently reported complications are dysphagia, postoperative hematoma, cerebrospinal fluid leaks, and dysphonia. Case description: Th...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-12-01
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| Series: | North American Spine Society Journal |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666548423000938 |
| _version_ | 1797390352952328192 |
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| author | Erik Werheim, BS Zachary Sokol, MA Neha Mody, PA-C Justice Owusu-Agyei, MD |
| author_facet | Erik Werheim, BS Zachary Sokol, MA Neha Mody, PA-C Justice Owusu-Agyei, MD |
| author_sort | Erik Werheim, BS |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The surgical approach of an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) navigates many important neurologic and vascular structures in the neck. More frequently reported complications are dysphagia, postoperative hematoma, cerebrospinal fluid leaks, and dysphonia. Case description: This case report details an ACDF in a 49-year-old female with intractable neck pain and radicular symptoms. Following the procedure, she developed intermittent tachycardia at rest, which worsened with exertion. Outcome: The cardiac workup was negative. A neck ultrasound demonstrated hypoechoic thickening of the vagus nerve, providing the diagnosis of vagus nerve injury. The patient's tachycardia has been managed with beta-blockers. Conclusions: Although previously unreported, vagus nerve injury following ACDF is possible, causing sympathetic disruption, which can be managed with beta blockers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T23:10:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-814a6dcfc3bf47999c74e2e16acd6a49 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2666-5484 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T23:10:29Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | North American Spine Society Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-814a6dcfc3bf47999c74e2e16acd6a492023-12-15T07:26:31ZengElsevierNorth American Spine Society Journal2666-54842023-12-0116100291Chronic intermittent tachycardia as a consequence of vagus nerve injury after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: case report of a previously unreported complicationErik Werheim, BS0Zachary Sokol, MA1Neha Mody, PA-C2Justice Owusu-Agyei, MD3Department of Neurosurgery, St Luke's University Health Network, 801 Ostrum St. Bethlehem, PA 18015, United States; Department of Neurosurgery, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, 3401 N Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19140, United StatesDepartment of Neurosurgery, St Luke's University Health Network, 801 Ostrum St. Bethlehem, PA 18015, United States; Department of Neurosurgery, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, 3401 N Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19140, United States; Corresponding author. Department of Neurosurgery, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, 3401 N Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA.Department of Neurosurgery, St Luke's University Health Network, 801 Ostrum St. Bethlehem, PA 18015, United StatesDepartment of Neurosurgery, St Luke's University Health Network, 801 Ostrum St. Bethlehem, PA 18015, United StatesBackground: The surgical approach of an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) navigates many important neurologic and vascular structures in the neck. More frequently reported complications are dysphagia, postoperative hematoma, cerebrospinal fluid leaks, and dysphonia. Case description: This case report details an ACDF in a 49-year-old female with intractable neck pain and radicular symptoms. Following the procedure, she developed intermittent tachycardia at rest, which worsened with exertion. Outcome: The cardiac workup was negative. A neck ultrasound demonstrated hypoechoic thickening of the vagus nerve, providing the diagnosis of vagus nerve injury. The patient's tachycardia has been managed with beta-blockers. Conclusions: Although previously unreported, vagus nerve injury following ACDF is possible, causing sympathetic disruption, which can be managed with beta blockers.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666548423000938Anterior cervical discectomy and fusionVagus nerveComplicationsTachycardiaACDFCervical |
| spellingShingle | Erik Werheim, BS Zachary Sokol, MA Neha Mody, PA-C Justice Owusu-Agyei, MD Chronic intermittent tachycardia as a consequence of vagus nerve injury after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: case report of a previously unreported complication North American Spine Society Journal Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion Vagus nerve Complications Tachycardia ACDF Cervical |
| title | Chronic intermittent tachycardia as a consequence of vagus nerve injury after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: case report of a previously unreported complication |
| title_full | Chronic intermittent tachycardia as a consequence of vagus nerve injury after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: case report of a previously unreported complication |
| title_fullStr | Chronic intermittent tachycardia as a consequence of vagus nerve injury after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: case report of a previously unreported complication |
| title_full_unstemmed | Chronic intermittent tachycardia as a consequence of vagus nerve injury after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: case report of a previously unreported complication |
| title_short | Chronic intermittent tachycardia as a consequence of vagus nerve injury after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: case report of a previously unreported complication |
| title_sort | chronic intermittent tachycardia as a consequence of vagus nerve injury after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion case report of a previously unreported complication |
| topic | Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion Vagus nerve Complications Tachycardia ACDF Cervical |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666548423000938 |
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