Usefulness of a Short-acting β2 Agonist in Exercise for the Patient with Cervical Epidural Abscess Accompanied by Severe COPD：A Case Report

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive lung disease causing dyspnea on exertion, exercise intolerance, decline in quality of life, and physical inactivity. The patient is a 78-year-old male. He complained of quadriplegia and was diagnosed with a C7/Th1 cervical epidural abscess. After treatment with antibiotics, he was transferred to our hospital. He had tetraplegia, which corresponded to the ASIA impairment scale D, and his Functional Independence Measure (FIM) motor score was 35 points. In addition, he had severe COPD; the Medical Research Council (MRC) dyspnea scale was grade 5, and the COPD assessment test (CAT) score was 26 points. He complained of dyspnea on exertion with low intensity movements. Despite rehabilitation, improvement in ADL and physical function was poor, his FIM motor score was 43 points and the Berg balance scale (BBS) score was 21 points at the 30th day. Therefore, we started assist use of a short-acting β2 agonist (SABA) before rehabilitation on the 33rd day, and his dyspnea on exertion, physical activity, and respiratory dysfunction improved. On the 83rd day, the improvement was as follows: the MRC dyspnea scale was grade 4, the CAT score was 18 points, his 6-minute walk distance was 110 m, and his BBS score was 40 points. He was weaned from continuous oxygen therapy and discharged on day 112, at which time his FIM motor score was 69 points. We considered that the assist use of SABA before rehabilitation improved his respiratory status and physical activity without worsening his respiratory function or limb muscle weakness due to dyspnea and quadriplegia.