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Resumen Introducción: La cirugía anterior de columna cervical es un procedimiento de rutina para la fijación de fracturas vertebrales inestables, las indicaciones para estabilización de las vértebras son osteomielitis, tumores espinales y trauma. Objetivo: Informar sobre una de las complicaciones poco frecuentes y potencialmente peligrosas de la fijación de columna cervical por vía anterior. Pacientes y métodos: CASO 1: Paciente del sexo masculino de 41 años de edad que sufrió un accidente automovilístico. La tomografía reportó fractura del arco anterior de C1 y fractura de apófisis espinosa de C5-C6. Fue intervenido quirúrgicamente, y se le colocó osteosíntesis con placa. Un mes después presentó perforación esofágica, por lo que fue reintervenido, se le retiró la osteosíntesis, se le realizó un drenaje y se le colocó sistema VAC. Fue dado de alta por evolucionar adecuadamente. CASO 2: Paciente mujer de 53 años de edad, que inició su padecimiento un mes antes, con dolor cervicodorsal. Se le realizó una resonancia magnética en la que se encontró hernia discal C4-C5, C5-C6; se realizó artroplastia con prótesis en C4-C5. Cinco meses después, presentó migración del implante protésico; fue intervenida para retirar la prótesis, y presentó perforación esofágica. Fue reintervenida, se realizó el lavado de herida quirúrgica y se le colocó sistema VAC. Evolucionó de forma satisfactoria, por lo que egresó por mejoría. Resultados: La perforación cervical posterior a cirugía anterior de columna cervical es una complicación poco frecuente, y es indispensable su reconocimiento y diagnóstico temprano. Conclusiones: La perforación esofágica posterior a la fijación anterior de columna cervical es una complicación muy rara, con una incidencia de 0.25%, cuya mortalidad es elevada de no ser diagnosticada de manera temprana.
Abstract Introduction: The anterior cervical spine surgery is a routine procedure for the fixation of unstable vertebral fractures; the indications for stabilization of the vertebrae are osteomyelitis, spinal tumors and trauma. Objective: To inform about one of the rare and potentially dangerous complications of the cervical spine fixation by anterior approach. Patients and methods: CASE 1: A 41 year-old male patient who had a car accident. The tomography shows a fracture of the anterior arch of C1 and a spinous process fracture of C5-C6. He underwent surgery, and osteosynthesis with plate fixation was placed. A month later he presented esophageal perforation, and underwent surgery again. Osteosynthesis was removed, drainage was performed and a VAC system was placed. He was discharged by adequate evolution. CASE 2: A 53 year-old female patient, began her condition a month earlier with cervicodorsal pain. A magnetic resonance was performed finding disc herniation C4-C5, C5-C6. An arthroplasty with prosthesis in C4-C5 was performed. Five months later, she presented migration of the prosthetic implant and underwent surgery again to remove the prosthesis, presenting esophageal perforation. The surgical wound was washed and a VAC system was placed with satisfactory evolution. Results: A cervical perforation after an anterior cervical spine surgery is a rare complication; an early diagnosis is crucial.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Foreign body ingestion is the second cause of endoscopic emergency in the elderly, and dentures are the most frequent accidently ingested objects. Once in the stomach, their expulsion can be expected in 4 to 6 days. The treatment is wait and see in asymptomatic patients, but preventive endoscopic removal can also be performed. OBJECTIVE: To present 2 scenarios of the outcome and treatment in patients with foreign body ingestion. CASE REPORT: Patient under study due to weight loss, with a denture detected by abdominal x-ray, ingested inadvertently a year ago. A laparotomy was required as extraction by colonoscopy failed, due to excessive inflammation. The second case, of 24-hour onset, was due to the ingestion of a partial denture. As duodenal endoscopy extraction was unsuccessful, the patient was kept under observation. When it did not pass the caecum, it was extracted by colonoscopy, with no further complications and shorter hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: Follow-up can be by simple abdominal x-ray, with endoscopic management if there is insufficient progress. In one of our cases, the outcome was unfavourable due to time of ingestion, and endoscopic management was not possible, whereas in the second case colonoscopy was performed early with success. Proper diagnostic and timely treatment mark the difference in the progression and outcome of the ingestion of foreign bodies.