neck trauma affecting diaphram, acidosis, bowel dumping, respiratory and coronary arrest

[martin427]

Is it possible for post motor vehicle accident trauma to neck to result in delayed onset of
rapid upper lung breathing without lower lung, perhaps due to impaired diaphram, to lead to serum acidosis, respiratory arrest and coronary arrest?  Prior to arrest experienced bowel dumping with loss of sphincter control.

Apparently aspirated during CPR, developed double lung pneumonia and kidney failure.

All better now, praise God.  

Ruled out heart, lung and kidney problems.  Neg brain CT & MRI.  Unfortunately no neck MRI

Is it possible the phrenic nerve was compressed after 12 days of vicodin ran out?

I can't stop worrying about a repeat episode until I have plausible explanation.

Martin

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

Yes it is possible for phrenic nerve to be injured following both a blunt and penetrating trauma to the neck resulting in poor functioning of the diaphragm, respiratory acidosis and cardiac arrest.
The exact cause of phrenic nerve compression can be found out only on CT scan or MRI of the cervical spine. Please get it done at your earliest.
Do let me know if you need more information. Take care!

[martin427]

Thankyou for your response.

While no neck MRI was ordered inpatient, I had one a month later without contrast.

What does "moderate narrowing of both neural foramina" imply at the C4-C5 and C5-C6 levels?

Otherwise, "the spinal cord demonstrates normal signal intensisty" and "normal marrow signal."

After the MRI, I began physical therapy and suddenly had improved breathing during PT five weeks later (4 months after the accident).

It sure seems to me as though the breathing problems are a result of the accident.
I take Etodolac daily as a prophilactic to avoid cluster headaches.  So, I have had some level of anti-inflamitory from the Etodolac before and after being inpatient.

The accident was within hours of an endoscopy and colonoscopy.  I was still coming off anesthesia and had also taken 60mg Torodol IM for headache about 20 min. before the accident.  Then I started Vicodin a few hours after the accident and finished the Vicodin the day before collapsing with the respiratory and cardiac arrest.

The good news is I haven't had a cluster headache since the accident!!

If the breathing problems have been due to nerve compression and it is resolved I would be greatly relieved.  If not, I am left puzzled and don't know what to do to prevent a future arrest.    

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

The foramina are the openings in the vertebral column through which the nerves come out of the spinal cord and innervate the tissues.
Mild narrowing of the foramina will usually not put pressure on the nerves, so the symptoms of nerve compression will be not present.
Please continue with the physical therapy.