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Pulmonary Problems & Cervical Spinal Surgery

If a person has a herniated disk in her neck or is experiencing spinal stenosis, her doctor might recommend cervical spinal surgery to relieve her pain. Her doctor will warn her about the risks associated with the surgery, which can range from nerve damage to serious pulmonary complications.

  1. Cervical Spinal Surgery

    • Cervical spinal surgery is performed to correct problems in a person's neck. During the procedure, the surgeon can work on a patient's vertebrae, nerves and the intervertebral disks in the spine. During cervical spinal surgery, patients are given general anesthesia. As with any surgery, there are potential health risks, including pulmonary problems, according to the New York Times.

    Pulmonary Problems

    • Pulmonary problems that occur in patients who undergo cervical spinal surgery include developing pneumonia after the procedure, a lack of gas exchange within the lung resulting in a lack of oxygen in the blood, and respiratory failure. Some patients experience pulmonary thromboembolism, or a blood clot that blocks one of the main arteries that serves the lungs, according to "Spine Secrets."

    Risks

    • Patients over age 50 are at a greater risk for experiencing pulmonary problems after cervical spinal surgery. The older the patient is, the greater the risk. A person who smokes or is obese is more likely to have problems. If a person has chronic bronchitis or has just gotten over a respiratory illness, she could have pulmonary problems while recovery from surgery, according to "Head and Neck Surgery---Otolaryngology."

    Treatment

    • While a patient recovers from cervical spinal surgery, doctors will monitor his condition so they can treat any pulmonary complications he experiences. Pneumonia can be treated with antibiotics. Lack of gas exchange can be countered with deep breathing and coughing. Anticoagulant medication can dissolve a blood clot in patients with thromboembolism.

    Considerations

    • To protect a patient's health, doctors try to avoid letting pulmonary problems develop. If a patient is known to be at risk for blood clots, then anticoagulants might be prescribed before surgery to prevent them from forming. Surgery might be delayed while a patient quits smoking, loses weight or is given more time to recover from a respiratory illness. In severe cases, a patient might be put on oxygen after cervical spinal surgery to be certain that she is able to breathe afterward.

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