Autonomic Dysreflexia Flashcards
What are the signs and symptoms of AD?
facial flushing, headache, blurred vision, nausea, nasal congestion, muscle spasms, anxiety
What are the causes of AD?
spinal cord injury
What is the pathophysiology of AD?
strong pain sends signals to spinal cord via intact peripheral nerves
CNS sense this input as it travels up spinal cord evoking a massive peripheral sympathetic response through spinal reflexes and sends the SNS signals and vessels vasoconstrict below T6
vessels continue to constrict as they try send signals to the brain
brain detects hypertensive crisis through baroreceptors in carotid and aortic arch but signals cannot relax or decrease pressure
brain attempts two maneuverers to
halt hypertensive crisis
brain attempts to shut down
sympathetic surge by sending
descending inhibitory impulses,
impulses are unable to travel to most
sympathetic overflow areas due to
spinal cord being severed and
attempts to decrease peripheral blood
pressure through an intact vagus
nerve, compensatory bradycardia is
inadequate and hypotension
continues
What are some nursing interventions and rationale for AD?
Position upright to
promote gas exchange,
optimise lung
expansion and lower BP
Administer O2 as
prescribed to reduce
the risk of hypoxia
Ensure oral secretions
are cleared to minimise
aspiration risk
Ensure patient is
repositioned regularly
to prevent atelectasis
and maximise air entry
for effective gas
exchange
Administer metoprolol
as prescribed to
decreased blood
pressure and reduce
the risk of a rise in
intracranial pressure
