New techniques for helping spinal injury patients to more quickly regain control of their own breathing, rather than relying on ventilators, have been brought to Bermuda by two visiting medics from Boston's Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital.

The techniques involve coaxing and encouraging patients to take deeper breaths that reactivate the lower reaches of their lungs and strengthen the muscles needed to enable independent breathing.

Dr. Kevin O'Connor was paying a repeat visit to Bermuda to pass on to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital staff the latest knowledge and techniques for treating spinal injury patients.

He was joined by Spaulding's senior respiratory therapist Thomas Murphy.

Explaining the technique, Dr. O'Connor, who is medical director of the spinal cord injury programme at Spaulding, said: "We use large breaths through each ventilator and this results in the patient being able to come off the ventilator sooner.

"Patients who have a spinal injury rely on their diaphragm to breathe. As a result they take shallower breaths and the lower lungs are effectively collapsed. By taking larger breaths the patient uses more of their lung capacity."

This is achieved by sending a larger push of air through the ventilator machine to the patient.

"Every few days the volume of air through the machine is increased."

As the patient uses more of their lungs they become stronger and eventually the next phase of the recovery process is put in place, whereby the patient is disconnected from the ventilator for a short time to breathe on their own and strengthen their breathing muscles.

This is continued until the point where the patient is able to breathe without needing a ventilator.

"It is a relatively new technique," said Dr. O'Connor.

His colleague Mr. Murphy helped present to the KEMH's medics with the history of ventilator use and respiratory care and also explained how the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital operates a dedicated respiratory care department, something that KEMH might consider deploying itself.

"We have learned that, back in the States, it's important to have a dedicated group of individuals to be part of a team who share knowledge with nurses, physiotherapists and speech therapists," said Mr. Murphy.

Both medics said they were grateful for the hospitality of KEMH and the continuing cooperation between it and the Spaulding hospital.