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Evidence-based respiratory management strategies required to prevent complications and improve outcome in acute spinal cord injury patients

Spinal injuries without neurological damage have little effects on respiratory function unless associated with injury to the chest wall. Early verticalisation or mobilisation of these patients is safe and likely to improve vital capacity. Spinal injury with cord damage has a profound effect on the mechanics of respiration and on respiratory function particularly in cervical cord injuries. Around 40% of spinal cord injuries occur in the cervical spine, a trend that is steadily increasing, with respiratory causes being responsible for death in over 20% of individuals. Loss of lung volumes and relative hypoxemia contribute to global hypoxaemia, exacerbating cord ischaemia in the acute period. Respiratory compromise results in the loss of muscle strength generation capacity and reduced lung volumes and in particular vital capacity, of up to 70%, ineffective cough and secretion clearance abilities; reductions in both lung and chest wall compliance and an additional oxygen cost of breathing due to changes in respiratory mechanics, with obstructive sleep apnoea evident in over 50% of acute tetraplegics. While some countries have specialist spinal centres to manage such catastrophic trauma with a demonstrable improvement in health outcomes attributed to their contribution, many individuals are initially admitted to local hospitals where healthcare professionals are less likely to fully appreciate the significant and continued vulnerabilities of such individuals. This article aims to provide a basic understanding of the causes and identification of the main principles of the respiratory management strategies required to maintain pulmonary health for cervical spinal cord injury patients during the initial and early post trauma phase.