MASSIVE TONGUE SWELLING AS A COMPLICATION AFTER SPINAL SURGERY

We report four cases of massive tongue swelling after spinal surgery. Swelling resulted from the position of the spine during surgery (flexe d thoracic-cervical position), fixation of the endotracheal tube, addi tional surgical gauzes packed around the endotracheal tube, and compre ssion of the base of the tongue. Swelling, which causes obstruction of the airway, is a severe complication after spinal surgery that someti mes requires a tracheotomy. This complication can be avoided by carefu l positioning of the patient and by fixation of the endotracheal tube before surgery. Once swelling of the tongue occurs, administration of a corticosteroid is effective in preventing constriction of the airway .