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Autonomic Hyperreflexia

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Consults in Obstetric Anesthesiology

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Abstract

Autonomic hyperreflexia is a well-known clinical emergency in individuals who have suffered a spinal cord injury at level T6 or above. Symptoms of autonomic hyperreflexia in patients with complete and incomplete paraplegia above T6 can be caused by almost any stimulus in the abdominal area or in the lower extremities, especially during parturition by uterine contractions. The symptoms vary from sweating and piloerection to serious blood pressure crisis and cerebrovascular accidents. Epidural anesthesia and general anesthesia are effective as therapy and also as prophylaxis. The perception of labor pain is clearly possible with lesions above T10.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. UC Department of Anesthesiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Hyndhavi Chowdary M.D.

  2. University of Cincinnati Medical Center and West Chester Hospital, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Lesley Gilbertson M.D.

Authors
  1. Hyndhavi Chowdary M.D.
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  2. Lesley Gilbertson M.D.
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Correspondence to Hyndhavi Chowdary M.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Associate Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA

    Suzanne K. W. Mankowitz

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Chowdary, H., Gilbertson, L. (2018). Autonomic Hyperreflexia. In: Mankowitz, S. (eds) Consults in Obstetric Anesthesiology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59680-8_21

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59680-8_21

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-59679-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-59680-8

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