Abstract
Four patients who underwent antero-posterior cervical fusion suffered from severe upper airway obstruction caused by pharyngeal edema/or hematoma. Three of the patients who were extubated after operation needed emergency and prolonged reintubation and the another one remained intubated because pharyngoscopy on the first postoperative day had showed swelling of pharynx. Pharyngoscopy was repeated regularly to confirm the diminution of swelling and the patients were successfully extubated. It is necessary to pay attention to delayed upper airway obstruction due to edema/or hematoma agter antero-posterior cervical fusion. A pharyngoscopy is useful to evaluate the upper airway.
