What is the treatment for autonomic dysreflexia?
Answer. The most commonly used agents are nifedipine and nitrates (eg, nitroglycerine paste or sublingual nitroglycerine). Nifedipine should be in the immediate-release form; bite and swallow is the preferred method of administering the drug, not sublingual administration.
Why does a full bladder cause autonomic dysreflexia?
When the bladder, bowels or skin are irritated, they send signals to the spinal cord and a reflex begins. This reflex causes the blood vessels below the injury level to tighten. This makes it harder for the blood to pump through the blood vessels and causes the blood pressure to rise.
What type of doctor treats autonomic dysreflexia?
Physicians specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation are well-acquainted with the diagnosis and management of autonomic dysreflexia and can be of assistance in both acute management and prevention strategies of this syndrome.
How is spinal shock treated?
Treatments for spinal cord injury-related spinal shock include:
- Physical and occupational therapies.
- Exercise therapy to strengthen muscles and maintain a healthy body weight.
- Medications such as painkillers, antibiotics, and antidepressants.
- Psychotherapy to aid in coping with and managing the injury.
Is autonomic dysreflexia permanent?
(See http://www.msktc.org/sci/model- system-centers for more information). Autonomic dysreflexia (AD) is a medical condition that can lead to serious stroke, seizure, organ damage, permanent brain injury, or even death if not treated immediately.
Is autonomic dysreflexia life-threatening?
Autonomic Dysreflexia (AD), sometimes referred to as Autonomic Hyperreflexia, is a potentially life-threatening medical condition that many people with spinal cord injury (SCI) experience when there is a pain or discomfort below their level of injury, even if the pain or discomfort cannot be felt.
Is spinal shock permanent?
While spinal shock is typically characterized by being temporary, it can be permanent in a few cases. This may be why some people think that spinal shock is a permanent loss of some of the spinal cord’s functions rather than a temporary condition (permanent loss is usually caused by an SCI or brain injury).
What could happen if autonomic dysreflexia ad is left untreated?
If left untreated, autonomic dysreflexia can cause seizures, retinal hemorrhage, pulmonary edema, renal insufficiency, myocardial infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, and, ultimately, death. Complications associated with autonomic dysreflexia result directly from sustained, severe peripheral hypertension.
Can spinal shock cause paralysis?
Spinal shock is the altered physiologic state immediately after a spinal cord injury (SCI), which presents as loss of spinal cord function caudal to the level of the injury, with flaccid paralysis, anesthesia, absent bowel, and bladder control, and loss of reflex activity.
What is the treatment for spinal shock?
Treatments for spinal cord injury-related spinal shock include: Physical and occupational therapies. Exercise therapy to strengthen muscles and maintain a healthy body weight. Medications such as painkillers, antibiotics, and antidepressants.