autonomic dysreflexia

Question 1

Injury to cord must be above what lesion?

Answer 1

T6

Question 2

main sign?

Answer 2

↑↑↑HTN

Question 3

symptoms/ complications caused by the ↑↑↑HTN?

-4

Answer 3

flushing, sweating, agitation, haemorrhage in brain!

Question 4

explain pathophysiology?

Answer 4

Pt has lesion above T6 > some kind of trigger > sympathetic spinal reflex via thoracolumbar outflow activated > ↑↑↑HTN > flushing, sweating, agitation, haemorrhage in brain! > brain tries to combat this by activating PNS response, sends signal down spine, will reach heart to cause bradycardia > but blocked any further than T6 > ∴thus ↑SNS; ↓PNS

Question 5

Most common trigger?

Answer 5

bowel or bladder impaction

Question 6

what are the potential triggers for autonomic dysreflexia?

Answer 6

bowel or bladder impaction
pain
constriction
anything really

Question 7

2 1st line drugs?

Answer 7

Nifedipine

Nitrates

Question 8

effect of Nifedipine and nitrates on BV diameter?

Answer 8

vasodilates

Question 9

Nifedipine moa?

Answer 9

Ca2+ channel blocker

Question 10

Nitrates moa?

Answer 10

give NO

Question 11

explain pathophysiology?

Answer 11

Pt has lesion above T6 > some kind of trigger > sympathetic spinal reflex via thoracolumbar outflow activated > ↑↑↑HTN > flushing, sweating, agitation, haemorrhage in brain! > brain tries to combat this by activating PNS response, sends signal down spine, will reach heart to cause bradycardia > but blocked any further than T6 > ∴thus ↑SNS; ↓PNS

Question 12

in autonomic dysreflexia there is an increase of what Autonomic nervous system?

Answer 12

↑SNS

Question 13

in autonomic dysreflexia there is a decrease of what Autonomic nervous system?

Answer 13

↓PNS

Question 14

how does heart try to compensate for the HTN?

Answer 14

bradycardia