What interventions do you need to perform for a patient with autonomic dysreflexia?
What is Autonomic Dysreflexia (AD)?Doctors define AD as an odd reaction of the autonomic nervous system, also known as the involuntary nervous system. This system controls bodily functions without you thinking about them or being able to control them. For instance, it controls your heart beating. Show
AD is often due to an issue with your bodily functions below the level of your spinal cord injury. The nerves in this part of the body attempt to signal your brain that something is wrong. However, having an SCI stops these signals from reaching your brain. So, special nerves automatically constrict the blood vessels below your level of injury. This narrowing results in a rapid increase in your blood pressure. Your brain detects the increase in blood pressure and tries to decrease it by slowing your heart rate. This slowing causes the blood vessels above the level of injury to relax and open wider. This opening may cause your face and neck to become red and blotchy. Your brain attempts to send messages telling your body to stop squeezing your blood vessels closed. Because the messages do not travel correctly through the spinal cord, your blood pressure may continue to rise. Left untreated, AD may lead to stroke, seizure, or death. As many as 90% of people with a cervical spine or high-thoracic SCI are at risk for AD. What causes Autonomic Dysreflexia?Anything that would typically be a painful or uncomfortable issue below the level of your injury could trigger AD. About 85% of the time, the cause of AD is urological, including:
Other conditions that may cause AD in people with SCI include:
In people without spinal cord injuries, AD can form as a result of:
How do I prevent Autonomic Dysreflexia?AD is a life-threatening emergency that patients with an SCI have little control over. You can reduce your risk of developing AD by:
If a medicine you're taking is causing AD, talk to your doctor about changing it. Avoiding illegal stimulants is also important. What are the Symptoms of Autonomic Dysreflexia?The most common symptoms associated with AD include:
How do you Diagnose Autonomic Dysreflexia?When you start having symptoms of AD, your doctor will likely:
They may also perform additional testing. Including:
What are the Treatment Options for Autonomic Dysreflexia?AD is a life-threatening event. At the moment, it's crucial to reduce your high blood pressure. If your systolic blood pressure goes above 150 and stays there, get help. The most severe complication of AD is a stroke. The first goal of treatment is to reduce that risk by treating high blood pressure. Once they've addressed the symptoms, doctors will work to treat the underlying cause of the AD. A doctor can bring your blood pressure down safely with medicine. Dropping your pressure too low too fast can be dangerous, so your doctor will keep a close eye on you. If medication is causing AD, treatment involves stopping that medication. If it's a blocked urinary catheter, your doctor will treat it and check for proper bladder drainage. They'll treat you with antibiotics if it's a urinary tract infection. If bladder or bowel issues aren't the cause, your doctor will search for what else may be causing the AD and work to treat it. Other causes can include anything from ingrown toenails to latent fractures. If you are experiencing an episode of Autonomic DysreflexiaIf you experience an episode of AD, there are a few things you need to do immediately. First, you should get into a sitting position or elevate your head as much as possible. Changing position can drop your blood pressure. Since bladder issues are the most common cause of AD, you or a caregiver should check your bladder. Catheterize your bladder if you manage it through intermittent catheterization. If you have an indwelling catheter, check for kinks or blockage, and make sure your drainage bag is not too full. Irrigate your catheter to clear any blockage. Next, check for bowel issues. You or your caregiver should perform digital stimulation to empty your bowel. Loosen any tight or restrictive clothing, such as belts or abdominal binder, untie shoes, and if you wear support hose, remove them. Check your bed or wheelchair to make sure you are not sitting on anything that may be causing pressure. If none of these things resolve the issue, talk to your doctor. They can reduce your blood pressure and help uncover what may be causing AD. What are interventions for autonomic dysreflexia?Treating autonomic dysreflexia:. Elevate the head immediately to a 90 degree angle and place the legs in a dependent position, if possible, to lower the blood pressure.. Loosen constrictive clothing, antiembolic hose, abdominal binders, etc.. What interventions will the nurse provide to minimize the risk of autonomic dysreflexia?The priority intervention is to identify and remove any noxious stimuli. Monitor vital signs, especially BP, and immediately place the patient in high Fowler's position with legs dangling to help lower BP. Remove any tight or restrictive clothing.
What is autonomic dysreflexia and its treatment?Autonomic dysreflexia is a serious medical problem that can happen if you've injured your spinal cord in your upper back. It makes your blood pressure dangerously high and, coupled with very low heartbeats, can lead to a stroke, seizure, or cardiac arrest.
When autonomic dysreflexia develops the best nursing action is to?The FIRST action the nurse should take when AD is suspected is to position the patient at 90 degree (high Fowler's) and lower the legs. This will allow gravity to cause the blood to pool in the lower extremities and help decrease the blood pressure.
What should I monitor for autonomic dysreflexia?Autonomic dysreflexia. Change in heart rate.. Excessive sweating.. High blood pressure.. Muscle spasms.. Skin color changes (paleness, redness, blue-gray skin color). |
