Needs regarding the hospital care provided to spinal cord injured patients

Abstract

Study type: descriptive and documentary work. Purpose: to identify the incidence of complications and the care provided by the nursing team to spinal cord injured patients. Method:the records of spinal cord injured patients were analyzed according to the lCD 10, from 1997 to 2000. Data were obtained through the Hospital File Service, through the request of a morbidity report. Afterwards, authors elaborated an instrument containing patient’s identification, basic data on clinical history and physiological alterations, as well as the day these alterations occurred and the care provided by the nursing team. Data were grouped and analyzed through a table and a chart. Results: authõrs observed that these patients were really susceptible to complications as infections, neurogenic bladder, paralytic ileus, priapism, profound venous trombosis, among others. They also found, through the annotatioris of the nursing team, the inexistence of specific care to these complications besides the basic care and the actions of propaedeutic and therapeutic nature that are complementary to the medical act. Authors also verified that six records did not present annotations about discharge orientations and that the notes in nine records were not enough regarding the care that these patients and the ones who provide their care would need at home in order to prevent these complications. Considerations: this study facilitated a broader view of the context involving the spinal cord injured patient. Authors believe that it is important to develop a nursing continuing education program in order to assure that the members of the team will update their knowledge about the needs of each patient and the stage they are going through.