title: Pulmonary management of the acute cervical spinal cord injured patients.
abstract: A traumatic spinal cord injury is a catastrophic event associated with physiologic disruptions to the motor, sensory, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems. Respiratory complications are a common cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with acute cervical spinal cord injury and treatments must be initiated immediately. The longer it takes for a patient to receive pulmonary treatments and mobility activities, the higher the morbidity and mortality and the longer the length of stay. Disrupted pulmonary mechanics and respiratory complications are frequent and are influenced by the level of injury.
authors.affiliation: The Queen's Medical Center, 1301 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA. Electronic address: KJohnson@queens.org.
authors.forename: Katherine G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: The Queen's Medical Center, 1301 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA.
authors.forename: Leilani Jean B
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Hill
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: Acute injury; Cervical spine; Pulmonary; Respiration