Question

A nurse is caring for a client with a spinal cord injury. What are the possible causes of autonomic dysreflexia that the nurse should monitor for?

Answer 1

1) Ans)Spinal cord injury: Trauma or damage to the spinal cord, the major column of nerve tissue that is connected to the brain and lies within the vertebral canal and from which the spinal nerves emerge. The spinal cord and the brain constitute the central nervous system. The spinal cord consists of nerve fibers that transmit impulses to and from the brain. Like the brain, the spinal cord is covered by three connective-tissue envelopes called the meninges. The space between the outer and middle envelopes is filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), a clear colorless fluid that cushions the spinal cord against jarring shock.

The spinal cord is very sensitive to injury. Unlike other parts of your body, the spinal cord does not have the ability to repair itself if it is damaged. A spinal cord injury occurs when there is damage to the spinal cord either from trauma, loss of its normal blood supply, or compression from tumor or infection.

Autonomic dysreflexia (AD) occurs in patients who have experienced a spinal cord injury, and it’s most likely to common in patients who have suffered a T6 or higher injury. This condition happens when an irritating stimulus occurs below the site of spinal injury, which leads to an exaggerated sympathetic nervous system reflex.

As the nurse, it is very important to know how to detect, prevent, and act when a patient experiences AD. This review is part of a neuro review, so be sure to check out

It occurs due to an irritating (potentially harmful) stimulus below the site of injury in patients who have a spinal cord injury, and it results in severe hypertension.

Triggers for autonomous dysreflexia in persons with spinal cord injuries can be anything that generates nerve signals to the SANS and PANS, including:

✓distended bladder

✓blocked catheter

✓urinary retention

✓urinary tract infection

✓bladder stones

✓constipation

✓bowel impaction

✓hemorrhoids

✓ irritations