Objective To study the effect of high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy (HFNC) in reduction in re-intubation rate, length of ICU stay and improvement of respiratory function in patients with high cervical spinal cord injury.Methods Single center retrospective study was carried out in our intensive care unit from September 2016 to March 2018. Post-operative patients ready for planned extubation with high cervical spinal cord injury were included. The length of ICU stay, re-intubation rate in case of respiratory failure, respiratory rate, pulse rate, MAP, SaO2, PaO2/FiO2, and PaCO2 of patients at 6, 24 and 72 h after extubation were compared between the HFNC and conventional oxygen therapy (COT) groups. Results During the study period, 38 patients were enrolled in the study. Of them, 16 patients were assigned in the HFNC group and 22patients in the COT group. Re-intubation rate was significantly different between the two groups (18.8％ vs 27.3％, P<0.05), but the length of ICU stay had no significant difference [(15.5±3.4) days vs (16.6±5.2) days]. The respiratory rate, pulse rate, SaO2 and PaO2/FiO2 at 6 h after extubation in the HFNC group were improved markedly than those in the COT group (P<0.05); and the PaCO2 and PaO2/FiO2 at 24 and 72 h after extubation in the HFNC group had much more improvement than those in the COT group (P<0.05). Conclusions Among individuals with post-operative high cervical spinal cord injury, high-flow oxygen therapy could reduce re-intubation rate, and PaCO2 level, and improve the respiratory function, but cannot reduce the length of ICU stay. High-flow oxygen therapy may offer advantages for patients with high cervical spinal cord injury.

Objective To investigate the effect of the mirror therapy (MT) combined with motor imagery therapy (MIT) on the lower limb motor performance,balance and ability in the activities of daily living of ischemic stroke patients soon after a stroke.Methods Forty hospitalized ischemic stroke patients were randomly allocated to an MT+MIT group (n=20) or an MIT only group (n=20).In addition to routine rehabilitation,the MIT group exercised practicing knee extension and ankle dorsiflexion 30 minutes a day,five days a week for 8 weeks following motor imagery therapy protocols,while the MT+MIT group accepted MIT combined with mirror therapy.The Fugl-Meyer lower extremity assessment (FMALE),Berg Balance scores (BBSs) and the Modified Barthel index (MBI) were used to evaluate the effects of the treatment before the treatment and after 4 and 8 weeks of therapy.Results Before the intervention there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of their average FMA,BBS and MBI ratings.After 4 weeks of treatment a significant improvement was observed in the MT+MIT group's average FMA-LE and BBS scores and in the flat walking component of the MBI.In the MIT group only the average bed/wheelchair transfer and flat walking scores in the MBI were significantly improved.After 8 weeks the MT+MIT group's average FMA-LE and BBS scores had improved significantly,along with its average scores in the feeding,dressing,grooming,bathing,urination,bed/wheelchair transfer,walking up and down stairs and flat walking components of the MBI.In the MIT group the average FMA-LE and BBS scores had improved significantly,along with those for bed/wheelchair transfer,walking up and down stairs and flat walking in the MBI.After both 4 and 8 weeks,the MT+MIT group's average scores were consistently significantly better than those of the MT group.Conclusion Mirror therapy can significantly enhance the effectiveness of motor imagery therapy when they are combined in the rehabilitation of ischemic stroke patients in the early post-stroke stage.