Community-care waiting list for persons with spinal cord injury

Advancing primary and community care for persons with spinal cord injury: Key findings from a Canadian summit

Context: Persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) experience significant challenges when they access primary care and community services.Design: A provincial summit was held to direct research, education, and innovation for primary and community care for SCI.Setting: Toronto, Ontario, Canada.Participants: Key stakeholders (N = 95) including persons with SCI and caregivers, clinicians from primary care, rehabilitation, and specialized care, researchers, advocacy groups, and policy makers.Methods: A one-day facilitated meeting that included guest speakers, panel discussions and small group discussions was held to generate potential solutions to current issues related to SCI care and to foster collaborative relationships to advance care for SCI. Perspectives on SCI management were shared by primary care, neurosurgery, rehabilitation, and members of the SCI communityOutcome Measures: Discussions were focused on five domains: knowledge translation and dissemination, application of best practices, communication, research, and patient service accessibility.Results: Summit participants identified issues and prioritized solutions to improve primary and community care including the creation of a network of key stakeholders to enable knowledge creation and dissemination; an online repository of SCI resources, integrated health records, and a clinical network for SCI care; development and implementation of strategies to improve care transitions across sectors; implementation of effective care models and improved access to services; and utilization of empowerment frameworks to support self-management.Conclusions: This summit identified priorities for further collaborative efforts to advance SCI primary and community care and will inform the development of a provincial SCI strategy aimed at improving the system of care for SCI.

Infarction of middle third posterior cortex of kidney: a complication of extended pyelolithotomy, intra-operative electrohydraulic lithotripsy and extraction of calyceal stones under vision using stone basket and flexible cystoscope in a spinal cord injury patient - a case report

BACKGROUND

Spinal cord injury produces multiple systemic and metabolic alterations. A decrease in micro vascular blood flow to liver, spleen and muscle has been described following spinal cord injury.

CASE PRESENTATION

We present a 46-year-old male patient with C-4 complete tetraplegia, who developed a large stag horn calculus with branches in upper, middle and lower calyces of left kidney. This patient underwent Gil-Vernet extended pyelolithotomy and required intra-operative electrohydraulic lithotripsy and retrieval of stones from upper, middle and lower calyces using flexible cystoscope and stone basket. Computed tomography, performed eighteen days after surgery, showed multiple areas of non-enhancing cortex posteriorly and in the upper pole, suggestive of focal infarction. Magnetic resonance imaging of left kidney confirmed the presence of an area of infarction in middle third of posterior cortex, but there was no evidence of trauma to posterior division of renal artery. Therefore, we postulate that compression of renal parenchyma by Gil-Vernet retractors during surgery, and firm pressure that was applied over the middle of kidney for prolonged periods while several attempts were being made to retrieve fragments of calculi from renal calyces, led to ischaemia and subsequently, infarction of mid-third posterior cortex of left kidney.

CONCLUSION

This case illustrates importance of gentle handling of kidney during extended pyelolithotomy in order to prevent subtle renal trauma, which may be detected only by advanced imaging studies. Further, spinal cord physicians should take a pragmatic approach to management of stones located inside renal calyces. Both spinal cord injury patients and their physicians should remember that in our enthusiasm to achieve complete clearance of stones embedded deeply within renal calyces, we could produce irreversible injury to kidney, as indeed happened in this patient. Therefore, emphasis should be placed on prevention of struvite renal calculi by discarding indwelling urinary catheters and eliminating Proteus bacteriuria.

Invasive carcinoma of urinary bladder in a patient with a spinal cord injury with non-functioning Brindley sacral anterior root stimulator: a case report

Background

Anterior sacral root stimulation combined with sacral posterior rhizotomy restores bladder function in spinal cord-injured patients suffering from hyperactive bladder. After successful implantation of bladder stimulator, urinary infection rate decreases, and patients are able to get rid of indwelling urinary catheters, which in turn reduce the risks for vesical malignancy. We present a spinal cord injury patient with non-functioning Brindley sacral anterior root stimulator, who developed carcinoma of urinary bladder.

Case presentation

A Caucasian male, who was born in 1943, sustained paraplegia at T-4 (ASIA-B) in 1981. This patient underwent implantation of sacral anterior root stimulator in September 1985. The bladder stimulator started giving trouble since 1996 and the patient went back to using indwelling urethral catheter. In August 2006, this patient passed blood in urine after a routine change of indwelling catheter. Cystoscopy showed unhealthy bladder mucosa. Bladder biopsy revealed carcinoma, which was infiltrating bundles of muscularis propria. Many of the nests showed evidence of squamous differentiation, while others could be transitional or squamous. This patient underwent cystectomy with lymphadenectomy in March 2007 in a hospital nearer his home. Histology showed three nodes involved. This patient has been doing well since the operation.

Conclusion

Occurrence of vesical malignancy in this patient with non-functioning bladder stimulator is a timely reminder to all health professionals, and health care managers that concerted efforts should be made to rectify a non-functioning sacral anterior root stimulator as soon as possible. Otherwise, facilities should be made available in the community for the spinal cord injury patient to use intermittent catheterisation and thereby, avoid permanent indwelling catheter, vesical calculi and urine infections, which are risk factors for bladder cancer.

Do spinal cord injury patients always get the best treatment for neuropathic bladder after discharge from regional spinal injuries centre?

OBJECTIVE

To draw attention to inadequate care received by some spinal cord injury patients after discharge from the regional spinal injury center.

SETTING

Regional Spinal Injuries Centre, Southport, UK.

METHODS

Presence of the urethral stricture was not recognised in a 69-year-old male with T-3 paraplegia, who attended a health-care facility with a urinary infection. A Foley catheter was inserted into the urethra only half-way and the catheter balloon was then inflated in the urethra distal to the stricture. In a 68-year-old male with T-8 paraplegia, a long-term indwelling catheter was eroding the urethra and he developed a severe degree of hypospadias while being managed in the community. A 49-year-old male with C-4 tetraplegia developed recurrent urine infections. He received several courses of antibiotics, which were prescribed by community health professionals. But he continued to be unwell. Subsequently, the patient was admitted to a district general hospital, where he was diagnosed to have mild chest infection and was about to be sent home. However, his wife was not happy, and then ultrasound of abdomen was taken, which revealed pyonephrosis. He was then transferred to a spinal unit.

RESULTS

: These patients were not seen promptly in a regional spinal injury centre when they developed medical problems. The complications, which ensued, might have been prevented if expert medical treatment had been provided without delay.

CONCLUSION

In order to meet the needs of a growing population of persons living in the community with spinal cord injury, more beds are required in spinal units. Provision of day surgery wards within spinal units, out-reach clinics and home visits by spinal cord clinicians may reduce the demand for admission in a spinal unit. Education of community health professionals on delayed complications of spinal cord injury, and good communication between spinal cord clinicians, patients, carers, and community health professionals by telephone, e-mail or conventional postal system are likely to improve the care of spinal cord injury patients after discharge from spinal injury centres. Spinal cord clinicians should adopt a patient-centred care instead of the traditional, paternalistic, doctor-centred care.

Flawed trial of micturition in cervical spinal cord injury patients: guidelines for trial of voiding in men with tetraplegia

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES

(1) To raise awareness of flawed trial of micturition (TOM) in male spinal cord injury (SCI) patients; and (2) to present guidelines for trial of voiding in male SCI patients.

SETTING

Regional Spinal Injuries Centre, Southport, UK.

METHODS

Trial of micturition in male SCI patients refers to discarding indwelling catheters and establishing them on balanced voiding with penile sheath drainage. We describe seven SCI patients, whose trial of micturition was flawed.

RESULTS

Two patients (C-6 and C-4 tetraplegia respectively) developed severe autonomic dysreflexia (headache, sweating, and increase in blood pressure) 2-3 h after removal of urethral catheter. A C-4 tetraplegic developed severe urinary infection after TOM. Four patients with tetraplegia started retaining increasing amounts of urine and developed urinary infections/autonomic dysreflexia/hydronephrosis 1-21 months after they were established on sheath drainage after TOM.

CONCLUSION

During TOM, patients with cervical SCI could develop autonomic dysreflexia, urinary infection, or hold progressively increasing volumes of residual urine. TOM should be guided by videourodynamics. SCI patients need alpha-blockers, and anticholinergics if voiding pressures are >40-50 cm H(2)O. If high urethral resistances are found, sphincterotomy and/or bladder neck incision will help the patients to void by triggering. SCI patients, who had undergone successful TOM, require meticulous follow-up including urodynamics. Intermittent catheterisation without adequate medications based on cystometrogram may be hazardous, and may result in upper tract damage. Facilities for supplementary catheterisation (three to four times a day) should be available in the community if a patient is unable to maintain complete, low-pressure, emptying of bladder.

The method of bladder drainage in spinal cord injury patients may influence the histological changes in the mucosa of neuropathic bladder - a hypothesis

BACKGROUND

In spinal cord injury (SCI) patients, no correlation was found between the number of bladder infections per year, the period since injury, the neurologic level of the spinal cord lesion and the histopathology of the urinary bladder mucosa. The use of chronic indwelling urethral and/or suprapubic catheters in SCI patients is often associated with inflammatory and proliferative pathological conditions in neuropathic bladder.

PRESENTATION OF THE HYPOTHESIS

We propose a hypothesis that the type of bladder drainage in SCI patients influences the histological changes in the mucosa of neuropathic bladder. This hypothesis implies that SCI patients with long-term indwelling urinary catheters develop certain histological changes in bladder mucosa, which are seen less frequently in SCI patients, who do not use long-term indwelling catheters. The latter group includes patients, who perform regular intermittent catheterisation and those, who wear a penile sheath and empty their bladders satisfactorily by reflex voiding. We hypothesise that the following histological lesions are seen more frequently in the neuropathic bladder of SCI patients with long-term indwelling catheters.(1) Papillary or polypoid cystitis; (2) widespread cystitis glandularis; (3) moderate to severe, acute and chronic inflammatory changes in bladder mucosa; (4) follicular cystitis; (5) squamous metaplasia; and (6) urothelial dysplasia. As per this hypothesis, it is postulated that the above pathological conditions are seen less often in SCI patients, who achieve complete, low-pressure emptying of the neuropathic bladder by regular intermittent catheterisation, and SCI patients with penile sheath drainage, who empty their bladders satisfactorily by reflex voiding.

TESTING THE HYPOTHESIS

A large prospective study of bladder biopsies in SCI patients practising different methods of bladder drainage is required to validate this hypothesis that the histological changes in bladder mucosa are related to the method of bladder drainage in SCI patients.

IMPLICATIONS OF THE HYPOTHESIS

We propose a hypothesis that the method of bladder drainage in SCI patients influences histological changes in the bladder mucosa. If this hypothesis is validated, methods of bladder drainage such as intermittent catheterisation, which do not require the use of chronic indwelling catheters, should be recommended, in order to minimise adverse histological changes in the mucosa of neuropathic bladder of spinal cord injury patients.