Critical Care Management for Patients with Spinal Cord Injury

Abstract

The care of the patient with a spinal cord injury begins in the prehospital and critical care settings. Crucial interventions during this period are essential to achieving good outcomes in this patient population. This chapter reviews the state-of-the-art critical care management of patients with acute spinal cord injury. This includes respiratory, circulatory, neurological, and hematological considerations. Also addressed are the role of steroids in this population and imaging considerations.