Traumatic tetraplegia: noninvasive respiratory management in the acute setting

Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2002 Oct;81(10):792-7. doi: 10.1097/01.PHM.0000027205.42338.72.

Abstract

A 15-yr-old patient with high-level spinal cord injury developed ventilatory failure 24 hr after hospital admission and required continuous ventilatory support. Although he lost all ventilator-free breathing tolerance, he was managed by receiving noninvasive intermittent positive-pressure ventilation rather than intermittent positive-pressure ventilation via an endotracheal intubation. Cooperative, uncomplicated, acutely injured patients with spinal cord injury who develop ventilatory failure are candidates to use noninvasive intermittent positive-pressure ventilation to avoid intubation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adolescent
  • Critical Care / methods
  • Diving / injuries
  • Humans
  • Intermittent Positive-Pressure Ventilation / instrumentation
  • Intermittent Positive-Pressure Ventilation / methods*
  • Intubation, Intratracheal
  • Male
  • Monitoring, Physiologic
  • Odontoid Process / injuries*
  • Oximetry
  • Patient Selection
  • Quadriplegia / complications*
  • Recovery of Function
  • Respiratory Insufficiency / diagnosis
  • Respiratory Insufficiency / etiology*
  • Respiratory Insufficiency / metabolism
  • Respiratory Insufficiency / therapy*
  • Spinal Fractures / complications*
  • Tidal Volume
  • Treatment Outcome