Marcapasos diafragmático como alternativa a la ventilación mecánica en el paciente con lesión medular cervical / Diaphragmatic pacemaker as an alternative to mechanical ventilation in patients with cervical spinal injury

Objetivo Comprobar que el marcapasos diafragmático es una forma de soporte respiratorio que puede usarse para facilitar la retirada del respirador volumétrico en pacientes con lesión medular cervical y parálisis diafragmática, mediante su comparación con el respirador volumétrico tradicional. Diseño Análisis retrospectivo de una base de datos prospectiva y de tipo caso-control apareado por edad. Ámbito Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos y Unidad de Cuidados Intermedios Respiratorios del Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos de Toledo. Pacientes Se han recogido los datos de todos los pacientes dados de alta del hospital con soporte respiratorio permanente mediante respirador volumétrico o marcapasos diafragmático con un periodo de seguimiento de 25 años y se han realizado entrevistas personales para valorar la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud. Para las comparaciones estadísticas se han usado tests de comparaciones y de supervivencia. Intervenciones Cuestionario de calidad de vida. Variables de interés Datos demográficos y clínicos, estancia hospitalaria, mortalidad, readaptación familiar y calidad de vida relacionada con la salud. Resultados Hemos examinado las historias clínicas de 101 pacientes, 37 con marcapasos y 64 con un respirador volumétrico. Nuestros resultados muestran tanto una duración del ingreso en UCI y de la hospitalización como una reintegración familiar sin diferencias significativas, con tendencia a una mayor supervivencia en los pacientes con marcapasos (18,18 frente a 9,67 años por el método de Kaplan-Meier, p<0,001), aunque esta diferencia deja de ser estadísticamente significativa (p=0,06) tras controlar (..) (AU)

Objective To verify that the diaphragmatic pacemaker is a form of respiratory support that can be used to replace a volumetric respirator in cervical spinal injury patients with cervical spinal lesion and diaphragmatic paralysis by means of its comparison with the traditional volumetric respirator. Design Retrospective study of a prospective database and age-matched case-control study. Setting Intensive Care Unit and Intermediate Care Respiratory Unit, Paraplegics National Hospital, Toledo (Spain).Patients We collected data on all patients discharged from the Hospital with permanent respiratory support by volumetric respirator or diaphragmatic pacemaker during a follow-up period of 25 years. Personal interviews were conducted to evaluate health-related quality of life. Comparison and survival tests were used for statistical comparisons. Interventions Quality of life questionnaire. Main variables The main variables collected were demographic data, hospital stay, mortality, family reintegration and health-related quality of life. Results We evaluated the clinical records of 101 patients, 37 in the pacemaker-group and 64 in the volumetric respirator-group. Our results show that ICU admission duration and hospitalization as well as family reintegration, without significant differences, with a tendency to greater survival in pacemaker patients (18.18 versus 9.67 years by the Kaplan-Meier method, p<0.001). However, this difference becomes non-significant (p=0.06) after adjustment of the groups by age. Furthermore, better quality of life was found in these same patients with pacemakers in terms of security, communication, sociability, comfort and mobility in the patients. Conclusions Diaphragmatic pacemaker ventilation is an effective alternative to mechanical ventilation with similar efficacy that improve quality of life in patients with severe respiratory failure due to cervical spinal cord injury (AU)

[Diaphragmatic pacemaker as an alternative to mechanical ventilation in patients with cervical spinal injury]. / Marcapasos diafragmático como alternativa a la ventilación mecánica en el paciente con lesión medular cervical.

OBJECTIVE: To verify that the diaphragmatic pacemaker is a form of respiratory support that can be used to replace a volumetric respirator in cervical spinal injury patients with cervical spinal lesion and diaphragmatic paralysis by means of its comparison with the traditional volumetric respirator. DESIGN: Retrospective study of a prospective database and age-matched case-control study. SETTING: Intensive Care Unit and Intermediate Care Respiratory Unit, Paraplegics National Hospital, Toledo (Spain). PATIENTS: We collected data on all patients discharged from the Hospital with permanent respiratory support by volumetric respirator or diaphragmatic pacemaker during a follow-up period of 25 years. Personal interviews were conducted to evaluate health-related quality of life. Comparison and survival tests were used for statistical comparisons. INTERVENTIONS: Quality of life questionnaire. MAIN VARIABLES: The main variables collected were demographic data, hospital stay, mortality, family reintegration and health-related quality of life. RESULTS: We evaluated the clinical records of 101 patients, 37 in the pacemaker-group and 64 in the volumetric respirator-group. Our results show that ICU admission duration and hospitalization as well as family reintegration, without significant differences, with a tendency to greater survival in pacemaker patients (18.18 versus 9.67 years by the Kaplan-Meier method, p<0.001). However, this difference becomes non-significant (p=0.06) after adjustment of the groups by age. Furthermore, better quality of life was found in these same patients with pacemakers in terms of security, communication, sociability, comfort and mobility in the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Diaphragmatic pacemaker ventilation is an effective alternative to mechanical ventilation with similar efficacy that improve quality of life in patients with severe respiratory failure due to cervical spinal cord injury.

[Pleural effusion after spinal fixation surgery in patients with traumatic spinal cord injury]. / Derrame pleural tras cirugía de fijación espinal en pacientes con lesión medular traumática.

The present study was designed with to determine the prevalence of pleural effusion after posterior approach for spinal fixation in patients with traumatic spinal fracture with underlying spinal cord lesion. The study included 20 patients over two years. The postoperative monitoring has been done in the Intensive Care Unit and have been practiced complementary examinations control, including chest x-ray study. The prevalence of pleural effusion was 75%, the time of diagnosis was within the first 48 hours after the operation. The pleural effusion does not preference for either side, and has generally been small claims. Only 4 patients it has been need drainage due to respiratory symptoms restrictive, and the outcome have been favourable in rest of the cases at conservative treatment.

Derrame pleural tras cirugía de fijación espinal en pacientes con lesión medulartraumática / Pleural effusion after spinal fixation surgery in patients with traumatic spinal cord injury

El presente estudio se ha diseñado con la finalidadde determinar la prevalencia del derrame pleural trasla intervención de fijación espinal por vía posterior enpacientes con fractura espinal traumática con lesiónsubyacente de la médula espinal. Se han incluido 20pacientes intervenidos a lo largo de dos años. Todosellos han cursado el postoperatorio en la Unidad de CuidadosIntensivos y se les ha practicado exámenes complementariosde control, que incluye estudio radiológicodel tórax. La prevalencia de derrame pleural ha sidodel 75%. El momento del diagnóstico ha sido dentro delas primeras 48 horas tras la intervención. El derrameno muestra predominio de ninguno de los dos lados yen general ha sido de escasa cuantía. Sólo en 4 casos seha precisado su drenaje por ocasionar sintomatologíarespiratoria restrictiva, y en el resto de los casos la evoluciónha sido favorable con medidas conservadoras (AU)

The present study was designed with to determinethe prevalence of pleural effusion after posterior approachfor spinal fixation in patients with traumatic spinalfracture with underlying spinal cord lesion. The studyincluded 20 patients over two years. The postoperativemonitoring has been done in the Intensive Care Unitand have been practiced complementary examinationscontrol, including chest x-ray study. The prevalence ofpleural effusion was 75%, the time of diagnosis waswithin the first 48 hours after the operation. The pleuraleffusion does not preference for either side, and hasgenerally been small claims. Only 4 patients it has beenneed drainage due to respiratory symptoms restrictive,and the o utcome have been favourable in rest of thecases at conservative treatment (AU)

[Acute transverse myelitis in seven patients with systemic lupus erythematosus]. / Mielitis transversa aguda en siete pacientes con lupus eritematoso sistémico.

INTRODUCTION: Although the association between transverse myelitis and systemic lupus erythematosus is rather infrequent, it is important to take this form of clinical presentation into account because it is a serious complication, which can potentially be treated but even when dealt with in the early stages does not always have a good prognosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review over the past 13 years of the cases that have been admitted to our specific centre for the treatment of spinal cord injuries that were diagnosed as suffering from myelitis associated with disseminated lupus erythematosus. Demographic and clinical data, together with data about acute phase and maintenance treatments, as well as the patients' progress and sequelae are described. RESULTS: The case reports of seven patients, all of whom were young females, are studied. In two cases, myelitis was the initial presentation of lupus. The main disorder was at the dorsal, followed by the cervical, levels. Only two patients had a favourable long-term progression from the neurological point of view (both managed to walk) despite acute treatment with high doses of intravenous corticoids, and regardless of the fact that cyclophosphamide was later used. CONCLUSIONS: Myelitis associated to lupus is a rare manifestation but, owing to its important functional repercussions, it must be taken into account when faced with an acute clinical picture involving the spinal cord; this is particularly the case when it occurs in young females, with or without a previous diagnosis of autoimmune disease.

Mielitis transversa aguda en siete pacientes con lupus eritematoso sistémico / Acute transverse myelitis is seven patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Introducción. Aunque la asociación entre mielitis transversa y lupus eritematoso sistémico es bastante infrecuente, es importante tener en cuenta esta forma de presentación clínica, porque se trata de una complicación grave, con tratamiento potencial, que incluso con intervención temprana no siempre se asocia a un buen pronóstico. Pacientes y métodos. Revisamos de forma retrospectiva durante los últimos 13 años los casos que han ingresado en nuestro centro específico para el tratamientode lesión medular, con diagnóstico de un cuadro de mielitis asociada a lupus eritematoso diseminado. Se describen los datos demográficos, clínicos, el tratamiento realizado en la fase aguda y de mantenimiento, así como su evolución y secuelas.Resultados. Se estudian los casos clínicos de siete pacientes, todas ellas mujeres jóvenes. En dos de ellas la mielitis fue la forma de inicio del lupus. La afectación predominante fue a nivel dorsal y después cervical. Sólo dos pacientes tuvieron una evolución favorable a largo plazo desde el punto de vista neurológico, consiguiendo la deambulación, a pesar del tratamiento agudo con corticoides intravenosos en dosis altas, con independencia de que posteriormente se utilizase ciclofosfamida.Conclusión. La mielitis asociada al lupus es una manifestación infrecuente, pero debe tenerse en cuenta ante un cuadro medular agudo, sobre todo si éste ocurre en mujeres jóvenes, con o sin el diagnóstico previo de la enfermedad autoinmune, debido a su importante repercusión funcional

Introduction. Although the association between transverse myelitis and systemic lupus erythematosus is rather infrequent, it is important to take this form of clinical presentation into account because it is a serious complication, which can potentially be treated but even when dealt with in the early stages does not always have a good prognosis. Patients and methods. We conducted a retrospective review over the past 13 years of the cases that have been admitted to our specific centre for the treatment of spinal cord injuries that were diagnosed as suffering from myelitis associated with disseminated lupuserythematosus. Demographic and clinical data, together with data about acute phase and maintenance treatments, as well as the patients’progress and sequelae are described. Results. The case reports of seven patients, all of whom were young females, are studied. In two cases, myelitis was the initial presentation of lupus. The main disorder was at the dorsal, followed by the cervical, levels. Only two patients had a favourable long-term progression from the neurological point of view (both managedto walk) despite acute treatment with high doses of intravenous corticoids, and regardless of the fact that cyclophosphamide was later used. Conclusions. Myelitis associated to lupus is a rare manifestation but, owing to its important functional repercussions, it must be taken into account when faced with an acute clinical picture involving the spinal cord; this is particularly the case when it occurs in young females, with or without a previous diagnosis of autoimmune disease

El paciente con lesión medular en el medio extrahospitalario / Patients with medullary lesions outside hospital

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[Acute transverse myelitis in systemic lupus erythematosus]. / Mielitis transversa aguda en el lupus eritematoso sistémico.

Acute transverse myelitis as complication of systemic lupus erythematosus is a known and well-characterized although uncommon clinical entity. We report here four cases of lupic myelitis collected at our hospital in the last few years and review the available literature of the last ten years, approximately the time when NMR became generally available. The clinical picture can be very variable and therefore, when facing a picture of acute myelitis, lupus should be included in the differential diagnosis; biochemistry evaluating the lupus "activity" is of poor diagnostic value, nuclear magnetic resonance is not conclusive for the etiologic diagnosis of myelitis and its prognosis has improved with therapy including pulses of steroid and immunosuppressant agents.

Acute acalculous cholecystitis in patients with acute traumatic spinal cord injury.

Acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) is a very serious complication which can be found in patients with multiple serious traumatic lesions ('polytrauma'). Very few patients have been reported in the literature with an acute spinal injury and associated AAC. We report seven patients with polytrauma and acute spinal cord injury who developed AAC. All had no complaint of the principal warning symptom: right upper quadrant abdominal pain. All presented with a palpable mass in this site and the laboratory results were compatible with cholestasis. The diagnosis of AAC was confirmed both by ultra sound and CT scanning. We discuss the possible precipitating factors and the treatment. One hundred and ninety one patients were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit in our Hospital with SCI over a period of 2 years, all of these in the acute stage. AAC was diagnosed in seven patients among them. Our purpose is to call attention to this clinical condition which can complicate the outcome of patients with multiple trauma and acute spinal cord injury. To date AAC in this group of patients has been infrequently described in the available literature.

[Acute transverse myelitis and primary antiphospholipid syndrome]. / Mielitis transversa aguda y síndrome antifosfolípido primario.

The case of a 39 years old woman with acute transverse myelitis manifested as a syndrome of the anterior spinal artery is presented. Etiologic investigation diagnosed a primary antiphospholipid syndrome because of the finding of significantly high titers of anticardiolipin antibodies discarding the presence of systemic lupus erythematosus for the lack of sufficient diagnostic criteria. The association between both clinical pictures is infrequent.