Does the CDC Definition of Fever Accurately Predict Inflammation and Infection in Persons With SCI?

Exploring the Lived Experiences of Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The global spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) has affected over 100 countries and has led to the tragic loss of life, overwhelmed health care systems and severely impacted the global economy. Specifically, individuals living with spinal cord injury (SCI) are particularly vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic as they often face adverse impacts on their health, emotional well-being, community participation, and life expectancy. The objective of this study was to investigate the lived experience of individuals with SCI during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, Canada. An exploratory design with a qualitative descriptive approach was used to address the study objective. Nine semi-structured interviews were conducted with individuals with traumatic and non-traumatic SCI (37-69 years, C3-L5, AIS A-D, and 5-42 years post-injury). Using reflexive thematic analysis, the following themes were created: (1) Caregiver exposure to COVID-19; (2) Staying physically active in quarantine; (3) Living in social isolation; (4) Difficulty obtaining necessary medical supplies; (5) Access to health services and virtual care during COVID-19; and (6) Fighting COVID-19 misinformation. This is one of the first studies to explore the impact of COVID-19 on individuals living with SCI in Ontario. This study contributes to a greater understanding of the challenges faced by individuals living with SCI and provides insight into how to better support and respond to the specific and unique needs of individuals with SCI and their families during a national emergency or pandemic.

Vital sign differences between septic patients with tetraplegia and paraplegia

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective chart review.

OBJECTIVES

Sepsis is a leading preventable cause of death in patients with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI). Individuals with tetraplegia may exhibit different signs and symptoms of infection compared to those with paraplegia. In this study, we examine differences in vital signs (VS) and mental status between septic patients with tetraplegia and paraplegia with the goal of improving early identification of sepsis in this population.

SETTING

Veterans hospital in Washington, USA.

METHODS

Participants consisted of 19 patients with tetraplegia and 16 with paraplegia who were transferred from an SCI Service to a higher level of care with sepsis between June 1, 2010 and June 1, 2018 (n = 35). We compared VS between patients with tetraplegia and paraplegia at baseline and during sepsis including temperature, heart rate (HR), and blood pressure as well as presence/absence of altered mental status (AMS).

RESULTS

While there were no significant VS differences between groups at baseline, septic patients with tetraplegia had lower maximum temperature (38.2 °C versus 39.2 °C, p = 0.003), lower maximum HR (106 versus 124 beats/minute, p = 0.004), and more frequent AMS compared to septic patients with paraplegia (79% versus 31%, p = 0.007).

CONCLUSION

Patients with tetraplegia may not be able to mount fever and tachycardia to the same degree as patients with paraplegia and may be more prone to developing AMS during sepsis. These findings suggest that changes to VS parameter cut-offs may improve sensitivity and be useful in identifying sepsis earlier in the tetraplegic population.

COVID-19 and spinal cord injuries: The viewpoint from an emergency department resident with quadriplegia

Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) present distinct physiological and social considerations for the emergency physician. During the COVID‐19 pandemic, these considerations may generate unique challenges for emergency physicians managing patients with SCIs. Physiological disruptions may alter the way SCI patients present with COVID‐19. The same disruptions can affect management of this vulnerable patient group, perhaps warranting early aggressive treatment. The medical picture will often be complicated by unique social characteristics. The reliance on caregivers for activities of daily living can, as an example, increase the human resource requirement of an ED. Considering the vulnerabilities and complexities of patients with SCI, the community should prioritise prevention of COVID‐19 infections in this group. In the event that they do present to an ED, planning for and understanding their complexities will facilitate optimal management.

Impact of passive heat stress on persons with spinal cord injury: Implications for Olympic spectators

Environmental heat stress can negatively impact health, work capacity, and athletic performance and potentially to lead to life-threatening consequences if not mitigated. With the upcoming Toyko Olympic games to be held during anticipated warm ambient temperatures (up to 29°C), and with spectators potentially spending long durations of time outdoors, certain populations of persons with impaired thermoregulatory capacity will be at higher risk of heat-related illness from passive heat stress. Persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) are one of these groups as a result of a decentralized sympathetic nervous system, which leaves them with impairment in convective and evaporative cooling via vasodilation and sweating, respectively. This review summarizes (1) thermoregulatory physiological responses of persons with SCI under passive heat stress: the effect of level and completeness of injury; (2) the impact of passive heat stress on quality of life (QOL), outdoor participation, behavioral thermoregulation, and cognition; (3) recommendations and education for clinicians providing health care for persons with SCI; and (4) suggestions of future directions for exploring the gaps in the literature on passive heat stress in persons with SCI. This article aims to equip consumers with SCI and health-care professionals with the most up-to-date knowledge on passive heat stress responses in persons with SCI, so that their attendance at the Olympic games can be done with maximal safety and enjoyment.

Efficacy of water spray for evaporative cooling in athletes with spinal cord injury

Study design

Interventional crossover study.

Objective

Spinal cord injury (SCI) disrupts afferent input to the hypothalamus and impairs efferent vaso- and sudomotor output, especially in lesions above the sympathetic chain (T1-L2). In consequence, persons with SCI under heat stress experience impairment in the ability to dissipate heat proportional to the lesion level. Thermoregulatory dysfunction places an individual at high risk of hyperthermia, which can be life threatening, especially for athletes with SCI during exercise. Current evidence on therapeutic cooling techniques in athletes with SCI is limited, but basic physiologic and research data suggest water spray (WS) might be efficacious, particularly in athletes with tetraplegia (TP), who are most impaired in thermoregulation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of WS on core temperature (Tc) during exercise in athletes with SCI.

Setting

Texas, USA.

Methods

Eleven individuals with SCI: seven with TP, four with paraplegia (PP); and sixteen able-bodied (AB) controls underwent a wheelchair intermittent sprint exercise for 90 min under two conditions: (1) WS application every 15 min and (2) control (C), without WS. Tc was measured every 15 min and was analyzed for the effect of group (TP, PP, and AB) and time. Change in Tc (ΔTc) was also compared between groups.

Results

ΔTc was significantly higher in TP vs. PP (p < 0.0001) and TP vs. AB (p < 0.0001) groups under C treatment. WS significantly attenuated ΔTc in TP (p = 0.001), but did not change ΔTc in PP or AB.

Conclusion

WS effectively attenuated Tc elevation during exercise in athletes with TP.

Sponsorship

Texas chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America.

Sepsis in mechanically ventilated patients with spinal cord injury: a retrospective analysis

Study Design

Retrospective analysis.

Objectives

Sepsis, one of the most frequent and life-threatening complications on intensive care units (ICUs), is associated with a need for mechanical ventilation (MV) as well as adverse respiratory outcomes in hospitalized individuals. However, it has poorly been investigated in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI); a population at high risk for pulmonary and infectious complications.

Setting

Spinal Cord Injury Center, Heidelberg University Hospital.

Methods

Over a 5-year period, 182 individuals with SCI requiring MV during their ICU stay were analyzed. Data assessment included demographics, medical characteristics, focus and causative pathogen of sepsis, length of stay, weaning outcomes, and mortality.

Results

Sepsis was recorded in 28 patients (15%), containing a subgroup of individuals suffering from infectious SCI and co-occurring primary sepsis with Staphylococcus aureus as the predominant microorganism. In most individuals, sepsis was found as secondary complication, which was associated with pulmonary foci, Gram-negative bacteria, and high mortality. More than 80% of individuals with secondary sepsis required induction of MV due to respiratory failure. Furthermore, respiratory failure was found to be independent of sepsis focus, spectrum of causative pathogens, SCI etiology, or severity of injury. Subsequent weaning from the respirator was prolonged in more than 90% with a high proportion of weaning failure.

Conclusions

Sepsis predominantly occurs as a secondary complication after SCI and is associated with detrimental outcomes. Although the lung is frequently affected as a failing organ, not all sepsis foci are pulmonary. Awareness of both actual sepsis focus and causative pathogen is central to initiate an adequate sepsis treatment.