The incidence, clinical features and risk factors for postoperative retropharyngeal hematoma and related dyspnea following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: A single-center study of 10615 patients

Postoperative retropharyngeal hematoma (PRH) and related dyspnea are rare but life-threatening complications following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) that require urgent recognition and treatment. However, current knowledge of PRH after ACDF is limited. Meanwhile, whether the morphological features of upper airway are the risk factors of PRH remains unknown.