[Ventilatory disorders in the acute period of tetraplegia of traumatic origin].

Out of a total of 30 cases of traumatic tetraplegia with the lesion situated from C1 to C8 seen during the acute phase in the department of Professor JUDET, 8 posed no respiratory problems, whilst the others suffered lobar or pulmonary atelectasis in 13 cases, retention of bronchial secretions with secondary infection in 6 cases and progressive hypoxaemia in 3 cases. The first two types of complication are mechanical in origin and are directly related to the neurological problem. The third type is of more complex pathogenesis, combining water retention, hypoproetinaemia and secondary infection.