Spinal Cord Injuries Flashcards
1
Q
Neurogenic Shock
A
- Blood vessels dilate
- Severe cord injury
- Hypoxia
- Unable to clear airway
- Bradycardia
- ALOC
- HOTN
Give fluids
2
Q
Spinal Shock
A
- Complete yet temporary loss for 48 hr
- Loss of motor, sensory, reflex, autonomic function
- Paralytic ileus within 72 hr
3
Q
L3
L4
L5
A
Sensation in top of foot & calf
4
Q
T10
A
Umbilicus
5
Q
C3 & C4
A
Clavicle sensation
6
Q
C7 & C8
A
Finger sensation
7
Q
CV Changes of SCI
A
- Bradycardia
- HOTN
- Hypothermia
- Dysrhythmias
- Decreased resp effort
Do not allow HOTN, assess RR often
8
Q
Autonomic Dysreflexia
S&S
A
- Bradycardia
- Severe HTN
- Sweaty above level of injury
- Goosebumps above/below
- Flushing above level
- Blurry vision
- Spots in vision
- Pale below lesion
- Apprehensive
9
Q
Autonomic Dysreflexia
Causes
A
- Full bladder
- Tight clothing
- UTI
- Epididymitis
- Scrotal compression
- Constipated
- Hemorrhoids
- Temperature changes
- Hard or sharp object contact
10
Q
High Thoracic SCI Bowel Changes
A
Spastic bowel & bladder
Lower thoracic injury = flaccid bladder & bowel
11
Q
Complete SCI Complications
A
- VTE
- Pressure sores
- Osteoporotic bones
- Osteopenic bones
- Heterotopic ossification
H.O: Bony overgrowth into muscle
Spine CT & MRI to Dx
12
Q
T6 injuries: above or at
A
Airway risk!
PE risk within 5 days after injury
Report O2 below 95% & assess RR every 2 hr
13
Q
Cough Assist
SCI
A
- For quadriplegics
- Place hands on upper abdomen
- Fingers interlocked
- Push in & up when they cough
14
Q
Dextran
A
Plasma expander to prevent HOTN
15
Q
Autonomic Dysreflexia
Immediate interventions
A
- Sit them up/raise HOB
- BP every 10 mins
- Loosen tight clothing
- Assess bladder distention
- Hypotensive drugs to prevent stroke (Nifedipine, nitrate)
- Assess for pressure sore, impaction, catheter kink (use anesthetics!)
