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. 2012 Dec;56(4):247-50.

Autonomic dysreflexia in spinal cord injury patients: an overview

Craig A Bauman  1 , James D Milligan, F Joseph Lee, John J Riva
Affiliations

Autonomic dysreflexia in spinal cord injury patients: an overview

Craig A Bauman et al. J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2012 Dec.
No abstract available

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
1) Strong sensory stimulus from below level of lesion (eg distended bladder) conveyed into spinal cord. 2) Signals transmitted up spinal cord initiate massive reflex sympathetic activation, causing widespread vasoconstriction (involving splanchnic blood vessels), and resulting in severe hypertension. 3) Brain detects a sudden rise in blood pressure (via signals from baroreceptors in aortic and carotid vessels carried in CNs 1X and X). 4) Brain responds and attempts to control BP sending descending primary inhibitory impulses from brainstem via spinal cord (which are blocked). Impulses travelling through the vagus nerve cause secondary bradycardia. Reproduced with permission from Middleton J. Treatment of autonomic dysreflexia for adults and adolescents with spinal cord injury. A medical emergency targeting health professionals. NSW State Spinal Cord Injury Service. Revised 2010. ©Copyright – New South Wales Health Department for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. Campagnolo D. Autonomic Dysreflexia in Spinal Cord Injury. Medscape Reference. 2011 Jul 26;
    1. Krassioukov A. A systematic review of the management of autonomic dysreflexia after spinal cord injury. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2009;90:682–95. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Schottler J. Patient and caregiver knowledge of autonomic dysreflexia among youth with spinal cord injury. Spinal Cord. 2009;47:681–6. - PubMed
    1. Karlsson A. Autonomic dysreflexia. Spinal Cord. 1999;37:383–91. - PubMed

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