pathophysiology
One in which the spinal cord has been severed or damaged in a way that eliminates all interventions below the level of injury.
What is complete spinal cord injury
Upon arrival to the ED what is the first things you should assess on a patient with a spinal cord injury
What is airway, breathing, circulation (ABC)?
This drug decreases inflammation, but side effects may be infection, elevated serum glucose, and stress ulcers
What is methylprednisolone?
What is the phenomenon called when a paraplegic foot moves?
What is Reflexive Movement or spinal reflex?
SCI patients are at risk of this in the first 5 days after their injury
What is spinal shock?
Causes of spinal cord injuries can be divided into 2 mechanisms
What is primary and secondary
What does hypotension, tachycardia, and a weak, thready pulse possibly indicate
What is hemorrhage?
A plasma expander that may be used to increase capillary blood flow within the spinal cord and to prevent or treat hypotension
What is dextran?
May occur within 24 hours after injury, most commonly in patients with injuries about T6
What is Autonomic dysreflexia?
SCI patients should be repositioned how often if they are sitting in a chair
What is every 15-20 minutes?
This is the leading cause of spinal cord injuries
What is motor vehicle accident?
This type of shock occurs with spinal cord injuries above T6 and presents with hypotension and bradycardia.
What is neurogenic shock?
Treats bradycardia if the pulse falls below 50 or 60 beats per minute
What is atropine?
This is used to determine the degree and extent of damage to the spinal cord and to detect the presence of blood and bone within the spinal column
What is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
A patient with spinal cord injury has an overdistended bladder and cannot empty it during the acute phase. This intervention is required.
What is an indwelling catheter?
Hemorrhage, ischemia, hypovolemia, and neurogenic shock are all types of
What is secondary injury?
This life-threatening complication occurs in spinal cord injuries above T6
What is autonomic dysreflexia?
This medication is commonly given to spinal cord injury patients to prevent deep vein thrombosis due to immobility.
What is enoxaparin (Lovenox)?
Allows for cord expansion from edema if more conventional measures fail to prevent neurologic deterioration
What is decompressive surgery?
A patient in autonomic dysreflexia should have their blood pressure checked how often
What is every 2-5 minutes?
This injury is when the head is suddenly and forcefully accelerated forward, causing extreme flexion of the neck.
What is hyperflexion injury?
Patient has complete but temporary loss of motor, sensory, reflex and autonomic function that often lasts less then 48 hours is?
What is spinal shock?
This type of medication is used to increase blood pressure in patients experiencing neurogenic shock.
What is vasopressor?
or norepinephrine?
An excessive, uncontrolled sympathetic output. Characterized by severe hypertension, bradycardia, severe headache, nasal stuffiness, and flushing
May have a seizure
What is autonomic dysreflexia
A patient in autonomic dysreflexia should be put in this position, it is the first priority.
What is sitting the patient upright?
or high Fowler’s position?