Conceitos, manifestações clínicas e cuidados imediatos na disreflexia autonômica / Concepts, clinical manifestations, and immediate care in autonomical disreflexia / Conceptos, manifestaciones clínicas y cuidados inmediatos en la disreflexia autonómica

Objetivo: revisar a literatura a respeito da disreflexia autonômica e apresentar conceitos, manifestações clínicas e cuidados imediatos diante dessa síndrome. Método: revisão integrativa da literatura realizada no período de maio a junho de 2018. Para a busca de dados foram utilizadas as bases de dados SciELO, PubMed e Medline. Resultados: foram selecionados quinze artigos publicados no período de 2013-2018, em português, espanhol e inglês, que contemplaram em seus títulos e/ou resumos/conteúdo o termo disreflexia autonômica e/ou reabilitação e/ou traumatismo da medula espinal e/ou seus respectivos unitermos, disponibilizados na íntegra. Quanto ao ano de publicação, observou-se que 33,33% dos artigos selecionados foram publicados em 2017; em relação ao idioma de publicação, a língua inglesa predomina em 73,33% deles; no que tange ao canal de publicação, a revista The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine apresenta 20% dos artigos escolhidos. Quanto às abordagens dos estudos, verificou-se a determinação de conceitos, manifestações clínicas e cuidados imediatos como temáticas mais apresentadas. Conclusão: foi possível observar que a disreflexia autonômica é uma síndrome de grandes limitações, fatores etiológicos e necessidades de cuidados especializados. Vale mencionar que há uma grande escassez de estudos sobre o tema.(AU)

Objective: to review the literature on autonomic dysreflexia and to present concepts, clinical manifestations and immediate care before this syndrome. Method: it is an integrative literature review, performed in the period from may to june 2018. Data search was performed using the SciELO, PubMed and Medline databases. Results: fifteen articles published in the period of 2013-2018 in Portuguese, Spanish and English were selected, which included in their titles and/or abstracts/contents the term autonomic dysreflexia and/or rehabilitation and/or spinal cord injuries and/ or their respective uniterms, available in full. As for the year of publication, it was observed that 33.33% of the articles selected were published in 2017; in relation to the language of publication, the English language predominates in 73.33% of them; with regard to the publication channel, The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine presents 20% of the articles chosen. Regarding the approaches of the studies, the determination of concepts, clinical manifestations and immediate care were the most presented themes verified. Conclusion: it was possible to observe that autonomic dysreflexia is a syndrome of major limitations, etiological factors and specialized care needs. It is worth mentioning that there is a great shortage of studies on the subject.(AU)

Objetivo: Revisar la literatura acerca de la disreflexia autonómica y presentar conceptos, manifestaciones clínicas y cuidados inmediatos ante este síndrome. Método: es una revisión integrativa de la literatura, realizada en el período de mayo a junio de 2018. Para la búsqueda de datos se utilizaron las bases de datos SciELO, PubMed y Medline. Resultados: fueron seleccionados quince artículos publicados en el periodo 2013-2018, en portugués, español e inglés, cuyos títulos y/o resúmenes/contenido presentaba el término disreflexia autonómica y/o rehabilitación y/o traumatismo de la médula espinal y/o sus respectivos unitermos, disponibles en su totalidad. Se verificó que con respecto al año de publicación hubo un contingente mayor de publicaciones en el año 2017 (33,33%), en lengua inglesa (73,33%), mientras que la revista donde la temática fue más abordada fue The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine (20%). En cuanto a los enfoques de los estudios, se verificó la determinación de conceptos, manifestaciones clínicas y cuidados inmediatos como temáticas más presentadas. Conclusión: fue posible observar que la disreflexia autonómica es un síndrome de grandes limitaciones, factores etiológicos y necesidades de cuidados especializados. Vale mencionar que hay una gran escasez de estudios sobre el tema.(AU)

Advanced Hip Osteoarthritis Causing Autonomic Dysreflexia and Severe Spasticity in a Patient With Spinal Cord Injury: A Case Report.

The life expectancy of persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) is increasing due to advances in medicine and technology. As a result, there is a higher incidence of age-associated illnesses in this population. Degenerative joint disease is a common age-associated illness that causes pain and thus, in persons with SCI above the T6 level, can serve as a noxious stimulus to trigger autonomic dysreflexia (AD). This is a case report of severe bilateral hip osteoarthritis (OA) causing unyielding AD in a person with tetraplegia leading to bilateral girdle stone surgeries. Hip OA as an etiology for AD has not previously been reported and is important to recognize as this population continues to age and to develop age-associated diseases. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: V.

"The ABCs of AD": A prospective evaluation of the efficacy of an educational intervention to increase knowledge of autonomic dysreflexia management among emergency health care professionals.

CONTEXT/OBJECTIVE: Despite the availability of consensus-based resources, first responders and emergency room (ER) health care professionals (HCPs) have limited knowledge regarding autonomic dysreflexia (AD) recognition and treatment. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of "The ABCs of AD" educational seminar for improving HCPs' short- and long-term knowledge of AD recognition, diagnosis, and management. DESIGN: Multi-center prospective pre, post, and follow-up questionnaire study. SETTING: Level I trauma centers with emergency departments in British Columbia, Manitoba, and Ontario. METHODS: ER professionals completed measures immediately before and after (n = 108), as well as 3-months following (n = 23), attendance at "The ABCs of AD" seminar. OUTCOME MEASURES: AD knowledge test; seminar feedback. RESULTS: Following the seminar, participants had higher ratings of their AD knowledge and had significantly higher AD knowledge test scores (M ± SD pre = 11.85 ± 3.88, M ± SD post = 18.95 ± 2.39, out of 22; P < 0.001, d = 2.21). Most participants believed the seminar changed their AD knowledge, and rated the seminar information as having the potential to influence and change their practice. AD knowledge test scores significantly decreased between post-seminar and 3-month follow-up (M ± SD 3mo = 17.04 ± 3.28; P = 0.004, d = -0.70); however, 3-month scores remained significantly higher than baseline. CONCLUSION: "The ABCs of AD" seminar improves HCPs' perceived and actual AD knowledge in the short-term. To enhance knowledge retention in both the short- and long-term, the inclusion of additional active learning strategies and follow-up activities are recommended. The seminar is being translated into an online training module to enhance the dissemination of the AD clinical practice guidelines among first responders, ER staff, and SCI practitioners.

Transrectal ultrasound-guided transperineal botulinum toxin a injection to the external urethral sphincter for treatment of detrusor external sphincter dyssynergia in patients with spinal cord injury.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of a single transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided transperineal injection of botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) to the external urethral sphincter (EUS) for treating detrusor external sphincter dyssynergia (DESD). DESIGN: Descriptive study. SETTING: Rehabilitation hospital affiliated with a medical university. PARTICIPANTS: Patients (N=18) with suprasacral spinal cord injury who had DESD confirmed on video-urodynamic study. INTERVENTIONS: A single dose of 100U BTX-A was applied into the EUS via TRUS-guided transperineal route injection. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Maximal detrusor pressure, detrusor leak-point pressure, integrated electromyography (iEMG), maximal pressure on static urethral pressure profilometry, and postvoiding residuals. RESULTS: There were significant reductions in iEMG (P=.008) and static (P=.012) and dynamic urethral pressure (P=.023), but not in detrusor pressure and detrusor leak-point pressure after treatment. Postvoiding residuals also significantly decreased in the first and second month after treatment (P<.012). CONCLUSIONS: TRUS-guided transperineal injection of BTX-A has beneficial effects in treating DESD.

Effect of treadmill training on autonomic dysreflexia in spinal cord--injured rats.

BACKGROUND: Weight-supported treadmill training is an emerging rehabilitation method used to improve locomotor ability in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). However, little research has been undertaken to test the effect of such training on other consequences of SCI, such as neuropathic pain and autonomic dysfunction. OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the effects of chronic treadmill training on the development of autonomic dysreflexia (AD), a form of cardiovascular dysfunction common in patients with cervical or high thoracic injury. METHODS: Treadmill training commenced in adult male rats (n = 11) 3 days following complete T4 transection, whereas a sedentary SCI group (n = 9) and an intact group (n = 6) had no intervention. Treadmill training (up to 0.4 m/s) lasted for 10 min/d 5 days a week, for 6 weeks. Weekly measurements of locomotor ability (BBB scale), baseline mean arterial pressure, and heart rate were made, as were cardiovascular responses to training and colorectal distension (to trigger AD). RESULTS: Treadmill training improved BBB scores from 2 weeks post-transection onward (P = .010). However, it increased AD, resulting in augmented pressor responses from 2 to 6 weeks post-transection (P = .029). Comparison of the vascular response to phenylephrine under ganglionic blockade showed an enhanced vasoconstrictor response in the renal vasculature of trained SCI animals. Immunohistochemical comparison of the L1-L6 spinal cord segments showed an increased area of CGRP immunoreactivity in the dorsal horn (lamina III/IV) of treadmill-trained SCI compared with intact and sedentary SCI animals. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that treadmill training exaggerated AD responses perhaps through a combination of enhanced vascular reactivity and central plasticity.

Patient and caregiver knowledge of autonomic dysreflexia among youth with spinal cord injury.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the prevalence and knowledge of autonomic dysreflexia (AD) from patient and caregiver perspectives, and its relationship to the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale (AIS) classification, level of injury, severity of injury, injury etiology, gender and race. METHODS: Participants were between 1 and 21 years old. Demographic information was collected from the medical records, and patients and caregivers were interviewed with the following questions: (1) Does the patient experience AD? (2) Does the patient/caregiver know what AD is? (3) Can the patient/caregiver name three signs/symptoms of an AD episode? (4) Does the patient/caregiver know how to treat AD? RESULTS: Overall, 40% of patients and 44% of caregivers said that the patient was symptomatic for AD. AD was more common in those with traumatic etiologies, in patients with injuries at or above T6 and those with greater injury severity as measured by the AIS. For patients and caregivers, AD was less common in the youngest age group (0-5 years old). Patients with greater knowledge of AD were more likely to have traumatic etiologies, have T6 or higher injuries, be in the oldest age at injury group, be older at time of examination and have had a shorter duration of injury. CONCLUSIONS: AD seems to be more common in patients with traumatic injuries, older ages at injury, greater injury severity on the AIS and level of injury at or above T6.

Physiology and management of bladder and bowel continence following spinal cord injury.

Patients with spinal cord injury commonly develop bladder and bowel symptoms that can affect their quality of life. The level of spinal cord injury is an important factor in considering bladder and bowel management strategy options to facilitate re-establishment of some level of elimination control. Bladder management involves choosing a drainage method appropriate to individual capabilities; options include clean intermittent or indwelling catheterization, Credé's method, reflex voiding, and surgical options. Bowel management strategies incorporate schedule, nutrition, stimulation, and surgical approaches. Bladder and bowel management regimens must include a thorough physical evaluation, patient/caregiver education, follow-up care, and a multidisciplinary team approach. Additional research to help clinicians recommend safe, effective, and evidence-based elimination management strategies to patients with spinal cord injuries is needed.

Malignant autonomic dysreflexia in spinal cord injured men.

STUDY DESIGN: Case reports. OBJECTIVES: To present a series of cases of protracted and severe autonomic dysreflexia (AD) in men with spinal cord injury (SCI), who sustained damage to their descending autonomic pathways. SETTINGS: GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre, Sexual Health Rehabilitation Service, Vancouver Sperm Retrieval Clinic, Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, Vancouver, BC, Canada. CASE REPORT: AD is a serious complication of SCI triggered by a variety of noxious or non-noxious stimuli below the level of injury. However, we are presenting three cases of protracted, severe AD we have termed 'malignant', owing to the tendency of progressive worsening not usually seen with AD once the alleviating factor is removed. In all three individuals, AD was initially triggered by ejaculation and continued for a period of more than 1 week. Systolic blood pressure in these individuals increased above 220 mmHg and required either acute hospitalization or hospital assessment. Two of the individuals with malignant AD had American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) B and C high cervical injury, respectively, with the third having a high thoracic ASIA A injury. In addition to detailed history and neurological examination, electrophysiological assessment of sympathetic skin responses (SSR) demonstrated a significant disruption of the descending autonomic pathways in these individuals. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that in addition to the severe injury of the motor and sensory pathways (assessed by ASIA score), these individuals sustained severe injury to the supraspinal autonomic control. A combination of strong triggers such as ejaculation and bladder or colono-rectal irritation with total loss of descending autonomic control to the spinal sympathetic circuits could therefore contribute to the unusual manifestation of AD.

Intracerebral hemorrhage secondary to autonomic dysreflexia in a young person with incomplete C8 tetraplegia: A case report.

Intracerebral hemorrhage is an unusual complication of autonomic dysreflexia and can be fatal if massive bleeding occurs with brain herniation. We report the case of a man in his midthirties with incomplete tetraplegia who suffered right putaminal hemorrhage during an episode of autonomic dysreflexia. Prompt recognition and removal of the triggering factors of autonomic dysreflexia quickly brought his blood pressure under control and the patient had a favorable functional outcome after rehabilitation. A review of the literature suggests that the location of hemorrhage in autonomic dysreflexia-induced cases is similar to that in the general population. The most common triggering factors are bladder distension in men and labor induction in women. Hemorrhagic stroke can also occur in patients with incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI) who develop autonomic dysreflexia. The role of sympathetic skin response examination is also discussed. This life-threatening complication should be kept in mind in the case of people with SCI.

Flawed trial of micturition in cervical spinal cord injury patients: guidelines for trial of voiding in men with tetraplegia.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: (1) To raise awareness of flawed trial of micturition (TOM) in male spinal cord injury (SCI) patients; and (2) to present guidelines for trial of voiding in male SCI patients. SETTING: Regional Spinal Injuries Centre, Southport, UK. METHODS: Trial of micturition in male SCI patients refers to discarding indwelling catheters and establishing them on balanced voiding with penile sheath drainage. We describe seven SCI patients, whose trial of micturition was flawed. RESULTS: Two patients (C-6 and C-4 tetraplegia respectively) developed severe autonomic dysreflexia (headache, sweating, and increase in blood pressure) 2-3 h after removal of urethral catheter. A C-4 tetraplegic developed severe urinary infection after TOM. Four patients with tetraplegia started retaining increasing amounts of urine and developed urinary infections/autonomic dysreflexia/hydronephrosis 1-21 months after they were established on sheath drainage after TOM. CONCLUSION: During TOM, patients with cervical SCI could develop autonomic dysreflexia, urinary infection, or hold progressively increasing volumes of residual urine. TOM should be guided by videourodynamics. SCI patients need alpha-blockers, and anticholinergics if voiding pressures are >40-50 cm H(2)O. If high urethral resistances are found, sphincterotomy and/or bladder neck incision will help the patients to void by triggering. SCI patients, who had undergone successful TOM, require meticulous follow-up including urodynamics. Intermittent catheterisation without adequate medications based on cystometrogram may be hazardous, and may result in upper tract damage. Facilities for supplementary catheterisation (three to four times a day) should be available in the community if a patient is unable to maintain complete, low-pressure, emptying of bladder.

[Post-inpatient after-care of paraplegic patients: selected internal medicine aspects]. / Poststationäre Nachsorge bei Querschnittgelähmten: ausgewählte internistische Aspekte.

In-hospital rehabilitation of para-/tetraplegic patients is followed by the family doctor's long-term surveillance supported by annual checkups in the rehabilitation clinic. The family doctor bears a heavy burden of responsibility. Loss of sensation may cover a wide range of complications. Most of these functional disorders are the consequence of reduced physical activity and a disturbed autonomic nervous system. There is a significantly high incidence of pulmonary infection, in particular pneumonia and atelectasis, coronary heart disease, autonomic dysreflexia, urinary tract infections, kidney stones, renal and hepatic insufficiency, gallstones, constipation and ileus, as well as decubitus, osteoporosis and so on. Chronic severe pain and spasm also require optimum therapy, in view of their potential to reduce quality of life and working capacity. This article provides an overview of several relevant problems in internal medicine involving diagnosis, therapy and long-tem surveillance of patients with spinal cord injuries.