Prise en charge périopératoire des patients ayant des lésions médullaires chroniques

Spinal cord injury induces dysautonomia and impair ventilation. The severity of the disorders depends on the level of the spinal cord trauma. In the perioperative period, patients are prone to develop acute hypertensive crisis and/or respiratory failure. The risk must be evaluated preoperatively and patients must be prepared to surgery. The choice of the anaesthetic technique depends on the level of the spinal cord injury and surgery. Neuroaxial blocks are not contra-indicated in patients with previous spinal cord injury.