A Fast-Track Respiratory Protocol for High Cervical Spine Injury: A Case Report

Spinal cord injuries, especially in the neck area, can lead to breathing problems. This often results in the need for a ventilator to help the patient breathe. Getting patients off the ventilator can be difficult and take a long time, leading to further complications and increased healthcare costs. This case report describes a new approach to speed up respiratory care for patients with severe breathing difficulties after a complete cervical spinal cord injury. The approach focuses on clearing lung secretions, using a specific type of ventilation, transitioning to spontaneous breathing, early tracheostomy, and high-flow oxygen therapy. The case study showed significant improvement in lung function and early removal from mechanical ventilation. This suggests the new approach may help restore lung function and allow for faster ventilator weaning in similar patients.

• 1
  Early and aggressive secretion clearance management, combined with moderate airway pressure release ventilation, can effectively improve oxygenation and promote pulmonary rehabilitation without compromising hemodynamics.
• 2
  Early tracheotomy following cervical surgery, early transition to spontaneous breathing mode to preserve diaphragm function, and high-flow oxygenation via tracheotomy after weaning can expedite liberation from mechanical ventilation.
• 3
  The case study highlights the potential effectiveness of fast-track respiratory care in promoting lung function restoration and expediting liberation from mechanical ventilation in patients with severe hypoxemic respiratory failure following a complete cervical spinal cord injury.