3. What Is Autonomic Dysreflexia?
Autonomic dysreflexia is a serious medical problem that can
happen if you’ve injured your spinal cord in your upper back
mostly above T6 LEVEL LESION
It makes your blood pressure dangerously high and,
coupled with very low heartbeats, can lead to a stroke,
seizure, or cardiac arrest.
4. Why does autonomic dysreflexia happen at T6?
• Patients with lesions above T6 are most susceptible to
autonomic dysreflexia because the large splanchnic blood
vessels are supplied by sympathetic fibres carried within
T6 to T10 nerve roots.
5. Pathophysiology of Spinal Cord Autonomic Dysreflexia
• Visceral or cutaneous stimulation below the level of spinal
cord injury provokes reflex sympathetic activity, resulting
in diffuse vasoconstriction and an increase in blood
pressure (BP). Normally, the increase in BP would
stimulate parasympathetic compensation with vasodilation
and correction of BP. However, if the spinal cord is
injured, the parasympathetic response cannot travel
below the spinal cord lesion, and continued
vasoconstriction then leads to continued injurious
hypertension.
6.
7. Autonomic Dysreflexia Symptoms
• The first signs of autonomic dysreflexia usually are a flushed feeling or a pounding headache.
You also may have:
• Heavy sweating
• Anxiety
• Slow heart rate
• Blurry vision
• Dilated pupils
• Goosebumps on the lower body
• Trouble breathing
• Stuffy nose
• Confusion or anxiety
8. Autonomic Dysreflexia Causes
• Bladder distention is responsible for about 85% of all
cases and is by far the most common trigger followed by
fecal impaction.
• Constipation
• Kidney stones
• Urinary tract infection
• Inserting a catheter, a medical tube
• Hemorrhoids
• Pressure sores
9. Autonomic Dysreflexia Diagnosis
• Your doctor will measure your blood pressure while they
figure out what triggered your autonomic dysreflexia
episode. They’ll check your bladder and bowels, since
fullness or a blockage there is usually the cause of the
problem.
• You may need imaging tests, like X-rays or an ultrasound,
or lab tests on your blood or urine.
• RELATED:
• Foods to Limit When You Have High Blood Pressure
10. Autonomic Dysreflexia Prevention
• You can take steps to lower your chance of complications:
• Use the bathroom on a regular schedule. Keep your
bladder and bowels from becoming too full.
• Know the signs of a bladder infection.
• Take care not to get skin sores or ingrown toenails.
• Carry a card for emergencies to let people know you
might have autonomic dysreflexia.
11. Autonomic Dysreflexia Complications
• Autonomic dysreflexia can be a life-threatening condition.
It can cause bleeding in the brain, stroke, seizures, and
other heart and lung problems.
12. Autonomic Dysreflexia Treatments
• Sit up as much you can. This helps move more blood to
your lower body and ease your blood pressure
• Take off tight clothes or other irritants
• Pee
• Your doctor may give you medication to make your blood
pressure drop quickly. If the problem is severe, they may
watch your blood pressure for 2-48 hours.
13. What is the role of physiotherapy
• Physiotherapy for people will concentrate on maintaining
tissue capability increasing muscle strength and
maximising potential and promoting independence.
Treatment will focus on: Increasing muscle strength
above the level of injury to reduce muscle weakness.
