P126 Weaning outcomes of mechanically ventilated spinal cord injured persons with acute tetraplegia admitted to a regional uk centre over a 10 year period

Introduction The occurrence of Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) is often complicated by the need for assisted ventilation. This study charts the weaning outcomes of mechanically ventilated SCI subjects admitted over a 10 year period to a regional Spinal Injuries unit. Methodology Acute SCI subjects with Tetraplegia admitted from April 2007–2017 to the Northwest Regional Spinal Injuries Centre (NWRSIC) were identified. Only those presenting with all 3 criteria: a) admission injury level C1-C6 b) admission ASIA score A-C and c) need for mechanical ventilation on arrival to the NWRSIC were included in the final analysis. Results The cohort consisted of 84 subjects (mean age 57 (SD 18) years; 76% male; 81 surviving to discharge). On admission, the level of injury was C1–3 in 28% (C1–3 ASIA A 20%; C1–3 ASIA B 2%; C1–3 ASIA C 6%) and C4–6 in 72% (C4–6 ASIA A 38%; C4–6 ASIA B 17%; C4–6 ASIA C 17%). On admission, 86% (72/84) were tracheostomy ventilated 24 hours/day, 12% (10/84) tracheostomy ventilated at night only and 2% (2/84) using NIV. By discharge, 13% (11/81) were tracheostomy ventilated 24 hours/day (including 2 Phrenic nerve paced), 13% (11/81) tracheostomy ventilated at night only, 7% (6/81) prescribed nocturnal NIV with 65% (53/81) breathing independently. Thus, when taking the entire cohort, 63% (53/81) achieved complete Ventilatory liberation, 12% (10/81) weaned to nocturnal tracheostomy ventilation only and 6% (5/81) were weaned to NIV whilst no further weaning was possible in 16% (13/81). The ability to breathe independently by discharge was found to correlate with level of injury on admission (CC 0.39; p Conclusion Our data demonstrates that in a cohort of consecutive SCI patients requiring mechanical ventilation on admission to a regional Spinal injuries unit, weaning from mechanical ventilation was possible in 84% of subjects with 63% being liberated completely from Ventilatory support by discharge. The use of NIV in the SCI cohort appears to be an emergent strategy during the weaning process.