Faculty Collaboration Database

Spinal cord injury and degenerative cervical myelopathy. Handb Clin Neurol 2022;189:241-257

Date

08/29/2022

Pubmed ID

36031307

DOI

10.1016/B978-0-323-91532-8.00006-9

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85136594983 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   2 Citations

Abstract

Spinal cord injury (SCI) often results in impaired respiratory function. Paresis or paralysis of inspiratory and expiratory muscles can lead to respiratory dysfunction depending on the level and severity of the injury, which can affect the management and care of SCI patients. Respiratory dysfunction after SCI is more severe in high cervical injuries, with vital capacity (VC) being an essential indicator of overall respiratory health. Respiratory complications include hypoventilation, a reduction in surfactant production, mucus plugging, atelectasis, and pneumonia. Respiratory management includes mechanical ventilation and tracheostomy in high cervical SCI, while noninvasive ventilation is more common in patients with lower cervical and thoracic injuries. Mechanical ventilation can negatively impact the function of the diaphragm and weaning should start as soon as possible. Patients can sometimes be weaned from mechanical ventilation with assistance of electrical stimulation of the phrenic nerve or the diaphragm. Respiratory muscle training regimens may also improve patients' inspiratory function following SCI. Despite the critical advances in preventing, diagnosing, and treating respiratory complications, they continue to significantly affect persons living with SCI. Additional studies of interventions to reduce respiratory complications are likely to further decrease the morbidity and mortality associated with these injuries.

Author List

Satkunendrarajah K, Karadimas SK, Fehlings MG

Author

Kajana Satkunendrarajah PhD Associate Professor in the Neurosurgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Diaphragm
Electric Stimulation
Humans
Respiration, Artificial
Respiratory Insufficiency
Spinal Cord Injuries