Oral ephedrine is useful to wean patients off long term parenteral vasopressors after cervical spinal cord injury

Abstract

Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) in young adults not only increases the risk of mortality but more commonly it complicates with life-long disability. Cervical SCI patients are particularly susceptible and sensitive to phases of cardiovascular instability and respiratory failure directly consequential from their injuries. Furthermore, long term vasopressor requirement is not uncommon though weaning from parenteral vasopressor is a challenge.
We document a case of the use of oral ephedrine, which we used to wean our patient from parenteral vasopressors. Oral ephedrine can be an appropriate option to get rid of long term use of infusion of vasopressor.