La insuficiencia respiratoria aguda que acontece durante la fase de schock medular hace necesario en numerosas ocasiones ventilar al paciente mecánicamente. La supervivencia del lesionado medular con disfunción respiratoria severa ha mejorado gracias al acceso invasivo de la vía aérea. La Fisioterapia respiratoria constituye un pilar imprescindible en el manejo y tratamiento de estas personas.
Severe respiratory insufficiency occurs during the shock phase in a spinal cord injury. This insufficiency makes it necessary to ventilate the pacient mechanically. Survival of a spinal cord injured pacient with severe respiratory dysfunction has certainly improved by means of the invasive access of the airway. Respiratory physical therapy has turned out to be an indispensable procedure in the handling and treatment of pacients with this kind of injury.