Abstract
Autonomic dysreflexia is a serious and common complication of spinal cord injury rostral to the T6 level. Bladder, bowel, and skin involvement below the lesion are common precipitants. The diagnosis is obvious when the patient presents with pounding headache, sweating, flushing, and severe hypertension, but subclinical episodes frequently elude detection. Prevention is the best management strategy. An acute episode not managed aggressively and systematically may lead to serious consequences.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Title of host publication | Encyclopedia of the Neurological Sciences |
Publisher | Elsevier Inc. |
Pages | 345-347 |
Number of pages | 3 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9780123851574 |
ISBN (Print) | 9780123851581 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 1 2014 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Acute episode management
- Autonomic hyperactivity
- Diagnosis
- Hypertension
- Precipitating factors
- Prevention
- Spinal cord injury
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Medicine