Autonomic Dysreflexia (AD)

According to Allen & Leslie (2022) :-

• Autonomic dysreflexia is a condition that emerges
after a spinal cord injury, usually when the damage
has occurred above the T6 level.
• 90% of patients with cervical spinal or high-thoracic
spinal cord injury will likely to experience this
disorder.
• Healthcare practitioners & care givers of spinal cord
injury patients must aware about the symptoms and
treatment for AD as it is an emergency condition that
can lead to life-threatening situation
 Symptoms of AD
AD is a condition where a patient lose control below the damaged spot. But the nerves
there still try to send signals back to the brain leading the body to experience:-
1. Rise in blood pressure
• More than 20 mm Hg systolic or 10 mm Hg diastolic, above baseline
2. Profuse sweating above the level of lesion
• Around the face, neck, and shoulder
3. Flushing of the skin above the level of the lesion
• Around the face, neck, and shoulders
4. Blurred vision
5. Slow heart rate
6. Confusion & anxiety
7. Muscle spasm
 Complications of AD
Hypertension
Seizures
Retinal Hemorrhage
Pulmonary
Renal Insufficiency
Myocardial Infarction
Cerebral Hemorrhage
Death
• Allen, K. J. (2022, November 28). Autonomic Dysreflexia. StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482434/

• Smith, M. (2018, January 16). Autonomic Dysreflexia. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/hypertension-

high-blood-pressure/hypertension-autonomic-dysreflexia