Spinal Shock - Autonomic Effects

Autonomic Effects

In spinal cord injuries above T6, autonomic dysreflexia may occur, from the loss of autonomic innervation from the brain. Parasympathetic is preserved but the synergy between sympathetic and parasympathetic system is lost in cervical and high thoracic SCI lesions.sacral parasympathetic loss may be encounterd in below t6 t7 lesions. Cervical lesions cause total loss of sympathetic innervation and lead to vasovagal hypotension and bradyarrhythmias – which resolve in 3–6 weeks. Autonomic dysreflexia is permanent, and occurs from Phase 4 onwards. It is characterized by unchecked sympathetic stimulation below the SCI (from a loss of cranial regulation), leading to often extreme hypertension, loss of bladder/bowel control, sweating, headaches, and other sympathetic effects.