Hypoventilation after spinal cord injury

Semin Respir Crit Care Med. 2009 Jun;30(3):330-8. doi: 10.1055/s-0029-1222447. Epub 2009 May 18.

Abstract

There are ~12,000 new cases per year in the United States of spinal cord injury (SCI) with life expectancies from 11 to 14 years (ventilator dependent) to 44 years (non-ventilator dependent). Those with SCI (C2-C8) are at great risk for developing hypoventilation, especially during sleep, and this risk increases along with the risk of sleep disordered breathing as they age. Most will have significantly reduced vital capacity and ventilatory reserve because of interruption of neural pathways to the diaphragm, chest, and abdomen, resulting in a restrictive ventilatory impairment with intact diffusing capacity. Diagnosis entails measurement of pCO (2) with capnography both awake and during sleep, optimally along with polysomnography to evaluate for all forms of sleep disordered breathing. Treatment options include diaphragmatic pacing, full positive pressure ventilation through tracheostomy, and noninvasive positive pressure ventilation. Some may require mechanical ventilation only during sleep.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Capnography / methods
  • Humans
  • Hypoventilation / etiology
  • Hypoventilation / physiopathology*
  • Hypoventilation / therapy
  • Life Expectancy
  • Polysomnography / methods
  • Respiration, Artificial / methods*
  • Sleep
  • Spinal Cord Injuries / complications*
  • Spinal Cord Injuries / physiopathology
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Vital Capacity