Effect of spinal cord injury on the respiratory system.
There are >200,000 persons living with a spinal cord injury in the United States, with approximately 10,000 new cases of traumatic injury per year. Advances in the care of these patients have significantly reduced acute and long-term mortality rates, although life expectancy remains decreased. This article will review the alterations in respiratory mechanics resulting from a spinal cord injury and will examine the contribution of respiratory complications to morbidity and mortality associated with various types of spinal cord injury.
D003964:Diaphragm / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000502:physiology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology*