Anaesthetic considerations for acute spinal cord injury.
The recently published research data on the possible pathophysiology of acute spinal cord injury provide the basis of a number of exciting possibilities for its treatment. The present article reviews these lines of investigation. It focusses on methylprednisolone, which is the only effective proven therapy to limit secondary spinal cord injury known to date. In addition, the initial evaluation of patients with possible spinal cord trauma and airway management in patients with cervical spine injury are also discussed. Finally, the anaesthetic regimen in patients with these injuries is reviewed, showing that no anaesthetic agent or technique is superior to other anaesthetic methods.
Brüssel
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Klinik und Poliklinik für Anästhesiologie und operative Intensivmedizin der Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Strasse 33, D-48149 Münster, Germany.