• Thomas Liebscher, Andreas Niedeggen, Barbara Estel, and Rainer O Seidl.
• J Spinal Cord Med. 2015 Sep 1; 38 (5): 607-14.

ObjectiveTo investigate risk factors for pneumonia in patients with traumatic lower cervical spinal cord injury.DesignObservational study, retrospective study.SettingSpinal cord unit in a maximum care hospital.MethodsThirty-seven patients with acute isolated traumatic spinal cord injury at levels C4-C8 and complete motor function injury (AIS A, B) treated from 2004 to 2010 met the criteria for inclusion in our retrospective analysis. The following parameters were considered: ventilation-specific parameters, re-intubation, creation of a tracheostomy, pneumonia, antibiotic treatment, and length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay and total hospitalization.ResultsAmong the patients, 81% had primary invasive ventilation. In 78% of cases a tracheostomy was created; 3% of these cases were discharged with invasive ventilation and 28% with a tracheostomy without ventilation. Pneumonia according to Centers for Disease Control criteria occurred in 51% of cases within 21±32 days of injury, and in 3% at a later date. The number of pre-existing conditions was significantly associated with pneumonia. Length of ICU stay was 25±34 days, and average total hospital duration was 230±144 days. Significant factors affecting the duration of ventilation were the number of pre-existing conditions and tetraplegia-specific complications.ConclusionsOur results confirm that patients with traumatic lower cervical spinal cord injuries defined by lesion level and AIS constitute a homogeneous group. This group is characterized by a high rate of pneumonia during the first 4 weeks after injury. The number of pre-existing general conditions and spinal injury-specific comorbidities are the only risk factors identified for the development of pneumonia and/or duration of ventilation.

29 keywords...

hide…