Anesthesia for Acute Spinal Cord Injury

Shilpa Rao; Miriam M Treggiari

doi:10.1016/j.anclin.2020.11.011

Anesthesia for Acute Spinal Cord Injury

Anesthesiol Clin. 2021 Mar;39(1):127-138. doi: 10.1016/j.anclin.2020.11.011.

Authors

Shilpa Rao¹, Miriam M Treggiari²

Affiliations

¹ Division of Neuroanesthesia, Department of Anesthesiology, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, PO Box 208051, 333 Cedar Street, TMP 3, New Haven, CT 06510, USA. Electronic address: shilpa.rao@yale.edu.
² Department of Anesthesiology, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, PO Box 208051, 333 Cedar Street, TMP 3, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.

PMID: 33563376
DOI: 10.1016/j.anclin.2020.11.011

Abstract

The spinal cord extends from the base of the skull to the first lumbar vertebrae from which it continues as cauda equina. Injuries to the spinal cord can lead to significant short- and long-term morbidities. Depending on the level of injury, morbidities may include acute hemodynamic changes, weakness of respiratory muscles and ventilator dependence, and loss of bowel and bladder function. Acute spinal cord injury with cord compression is a surgical emergency. Important anesthetic implications include airway stabilization and management, fluid management, and maintenance of spinal cord perfusion pressure at all times.

Keywords: ASIA impairment scale; Acute spinal cord injury; Autonomic dysreflexia; Spinal anatomy; Spinal shock.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Anesthesia*
Humans
Spinal Cord
Spinal Cord Injuries* / therapy