title: Noninvasive determination of inspiratory pressure in patients with spinal cord injury: what is the best method?
abstract: The aim of the study was to evaluate the performance of sniff nasal inspiratory pressure (SNIP) and MIP in individuals with spinal cord injury. We evaluated 26 patients with spinal cord injury. Mean FVC in those with tetraplegia was 52 +/- 19% of predicted, compared with 78 +/- 23% of predicted in those with paraplegia (p < 0.05). In contrast, the percentage of predicted SNIP was lower in those with tetraplegia than in those with paraplegia (p < 0.05). In all participants, SNIP correlated significantly with the level of the injury (r = 0.489; 95% CI: 0.125-0.737). The impact that the greater discriminatory power of SNIP has on the diagnosis of impaired pulmonary function in spinal cord-injured patients should be investigated further.
authors.affiliation: SARAH Network of Rehabilitation Hospitals, Brasília, Brazil.
authors.forename: Andrea Ponte
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: Sergio Ricardo Menezes
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Mateus
authors.forename: Thomas Anthony
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Horan
authors.forename: Paulo Sérgio Siebra
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Beraldo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D001239:Inhalation / Q000502:physiology*; D007320:Inspiratory Capacity / Q000502:physiology; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000502:physiology*; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate / Q000502:physiology; D011312:Pressure; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests / Q000379:methods*; D012132:Respiratory Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult