Does american Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale predict the Need for Tracheostomy After Cervical Spinal Cord Injury?
An ASIA Impairment Scale of A at any level of injury is a specific predictor of the need for tracheostomy with a low false-positive rate. Given the relatively low risk of early tracheostomy and the potential benefits, an ASIA Impairment Scale of A would be a sensible early criterion to determine the need for tracheostomy.
We performed a mixed-methods prospective study of the effects of gastrostomy feeding on HRQoL. HRQoL did not significantly improve after gastrostomy insertion for patients or caregivers. The lack of significant decrease in HRQoL after the procedure indicates that gastrostomies may help maintain HRQoL. Findings have relevance to those involved in gastrostomy insertion decisions and indicate the importance of carefully selecting patients for this intervention, despite the relative ease of insertion.