Medical complications of spinal cord disease.

Spinal cord injury increases the risk of many life-threatening medical problems, including respiratory failure, pulmonary embolism, and renal failure. Respiratory failure results from paralysis of muscles of inspiration (which impairs oxygen transport to alveoli) and of expiration (which impairs cough and predisposes to pneumonia and atelectasis). Respiratory failure in patients with spinal cord injury can be prevented by proper positioning of the patient, training of ventilatory muscles, pulmonary toilet, and aggressive use of antibiotics and bronchodilators. When respiratory failure occurs, it can be managed by administration of oxygen, intubation, and mechanical ventilation, and in instances of paralysis of the diaphragm, by diaphragmatic pacing. The risk of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in acute spinal cord disease is increased by the immobilization of the patient and abnormalities in clotting factors. Thrombotic disease in spinal cord disease can be prevented by intermittent calf compression and heparinization. If pulmonary embolism develops, the patient should be started on a regimen of warfarin for at least 3 months. If anticoagulation is contraindicated, a Greenfield filter can be placed. However, concurrent use of quad cough places the patient at increased risk for complications from the Greenfield filter. Chronic pyelonephritis and systemic amyloidosis are the most common causes of renal failure in the patient with spinal cord disease. Renal failure can be prevented by maintaining a low postvoid residual volume, avoidance of indwelling catheters, use of medications that are not nephrotoxic, and rapid treatment of infection. Hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis can extend the life of the patient with spinal cord disease in whom renal failure develops, and successful use of renal transplantation has recently been reported.