Correlation of antithrombotic medication use with lower incidence of postoperative dysphagia following anterior cervical spine surgery.

Key Points

• To explore the relationship between antithrombotic medication use and rates of postoperative dysphagia following anterior cervical spine surgery.
• Observational study design
• Comparison of dysphagia rates in patients taking antithrombotics vs. non-users
• Analysis of microcirculation effects on esophageal health
• Assessment of esophageal retraction durations during surgery
• Patients using antithrombotic medications had significantly lower rates of postoperative dysphagia
• Antithrombotic use correlated with improved microcirculation in the esophagus post-surgery
• The findings suggest that antithrombotics may protect against dysphagia-related complications