Impact of Cardiac Pacemaker Implantation in Patients With Acute Traumatic Cervical Spinal Cord Injury
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Date
4-30-2024
Journal
The American surgeon
DOI
10.1177/00031348241250041
Keywords
cervical vertebrae; mortality; pacemaker; spinal cord injuries
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Cardiac pacemaker implantation may be indicated in patients with refractory bradycardia following a cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI). However, evidence about the impact of this procedure on outcomes is lacking. We planned a study to assess whether the implantation of a pacemaker would decrease mortality and hospital resource utilization in patients with CSCI. METHODS: Adult patients with CSCI in the Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP) database between 2016 and 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into "pacemaker" and "non-pacemaker" groups, and their baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 6774 cases were analyzed. The pacemaker group showed higher in-hospital rates of cardiac arrest, myocardial infarction, and longer duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU stay than the non-pacemaker group. Nevertheless, pacemaker placement was associated with a significant decrease in mortality (4.2% vs 26.0%, < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with CSCI requiring a pacemaker placement had better survival than those treated without a pacemaker. Pacemaker implantation should be highly considered in patients who develop refractory bradycardia after CSCI.
APA Citation
Kim, Maru; Firek, Matthew; Coimbra, Bruno Cammarota; Allison-Aipa, Timothy; Zakhary, Bishoy; and Coimbra, Raul, "Impact of Cardiac Pacemaker Implantation in Patients With Acute Traumatic Cervical Spinal Cord Injury" (2024). GW Authored Works. Paper 4659.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/4659
Department
School of Medicine and Health Sciences Student Works