Ultrasonographic Evaluation of Upper Esophageal Sphincter for Dysphagia During the Acute Postoperative Phase of Anterior Cervical Surgery.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To verify the pathophysiology of dysphagia during the acute postoperative phase of anterior cervical surgery and to identify its predictive features, using ultrasonographic (US) examination for upper esophageal sphincter (UES).

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: There are no clinical studies investigating dysphagia after anterior cervical surgery, using US examination for UES.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled patients who underwent anterior cervical spine surgery between August 2018 and March 2022. Dysphagia was evaluated using the Eating Assessment Tool-10 (EAT-10) questionnaires. The US examination was performed preoperatively and 2 weeks postoperatively. Three US parameters for morphologic measurements (outer diameter, inner diameter, and muscle thickness) and 4 for functional measurements (displacement, time to relax, passing duration, and time to contract) were assessed. To verify the pathophysiology of postoperative dysphagia, we examined the change in the ratios of US parameters (=US parameter2 weeks postoperatively/US parameterat baseline) and the existence of significant correlations with change in the EAT-10 score (=EAT-102 weeks postoperatively-EAT-10at baseline). To identify the predictive features, the baseline US parameters were compared between dysphagia (+) and dysphagia (-) groups.

RESULTS: A total of 46 patients (mean age, 61.3 y; 78.3% male) were included for analysis. A greater increase of the EAT-10 score after surgery was positively correlated with change ratios of the muscle thickness and time to contract and negatively with change ratio of the inner diameter. The dysphagia (+) group exhibited significantly greater inner diameter and smaller muscle thickness at baseline than the dysphagia (-) group.

CONCLUSION: Dysphagia during the acute postoperative phase of anterior cervical surgery is caused by the physical narrowing of the inner lumen due to muscle thickening of the UES and sphincter contractile dysfunction. In addition, a baseline UES morphology characterized by a greater inner diameter and a thinner muscle layer is predictive of postoperative dysphagia.