Acute Care Cardiovascular Abnormalities and Autonomic Dysreflexia After SCI

Autonomic dysreflexia (AD) is a potentially life-threatening condition that emerges after a spinal cord injury (SCI), commonly occurring when the damage to the spinal cord occurs at or above the T6 level. It is characterized as a syndrome of sudden, exaggerated, reflexive increase in blood pressure in response to a stimulus below the level of the SCI, such as bowel or bladder distention. The prevention, immediate recognition, and management of AD are crucial acute care rehabilitation management principles. This chapter will focus on the pathophysiology, risk factors, clinical characteristics, and impact of AD in adult and pediatric patients with SCI.