Background: Spinal cord trauma has a negative prognosis, with low life quality. Management procedures increase chances of survival and a better life quality. Objectives: Review in the scientific literature which treatments are recommended to spinal cord trauma in the hospital and how it affects life quality. Methods: A literature review was carried out in the MEDLINE/Pubmed, Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) and LILACS databases, using the terms “spinal trauma”, “recovery”, “patient management”, “accessibility” and “life quality”, in Portuguese, English and Spanish. 87 articles were found and 15 followed for complete analysis. This exclusion criteria were used: (a) articles published before 2015; (b) articles that did not fit the proposed theme. Results: At the hospital, treatment to spinal cord trauma is supportive, reducing secondary damage. Respiratory disorders are treated with intubation. Management of the respiratory tract should also include physiotherapy of the pectoral region, secretion clearance, mucolytic and bronchodilators. High-risk patients may need tracheostomy. The more complex the injury and the higher the level, the more aggressive the neurogenic shock. The first treatment should be fluid resuscitation, to maintain euvolemia. The second, vasopressors and inotropes. MAP should be above 85-90 mmHg during the first week to avoid neurological damage. Conclusions: The treatments are extremely important, but the prognosis is usually negative, given the limitations that reduce the life quality of these people, who suffer from a lack of accessibility.
Management of patients with spinal cord trauma in the hospital environment and life quality
