Abstract. The histories of 444 patients admitted to this spinal cord injury service were reviewed for the incidence of autonomic dysreftexia (A.D.). Forty-eight per cent of 21 3 patients with complete cord lesions at T6 or above exhibited A.D. The time of onset post-injury, exciting causes, unusual manifestations of attacks, and the persistence of the condition were studied. These findings and the experience with attempts at prevention by education and by the use of an alpha-adrenergic blocker and a non-adrenergic vaso dilating agent are reported.
Obtaining and sustaining an erection that is firm enough and adequate for vaginal penetration and satisfactory completion of intercourse are common problems for the male spinal cord injury patient. Intracavernous injection of vasoactive substances offers a new treatment option but it must be approached with caution in this population. During the last year we placed 20 spinal cord injury men (16 paraplegics and 4 quadriplegics) on self-injection of papaverine alone or with phentolamine. Of the patients 19 were able to obtain an erection adequate for penetration. The patient who did not obtain an adequate erection had anomalous penile venous drainage. Six episodes of priapism occurred in 3 patients: 1 had a surgical shunt placed elsewhere before he entered our program, and 2 were treated with aspiration of the corpora and injection of epinephrine. All 3 patients subsequently have been able to obtain satisfactory erections with use of lower doses of papaverine alone.
Cystometry, using a portable CO2 cystometer, is a convenient method for detecting autonomic dysreflexia (A.D.) in response to bladder distention. Serial tracings on successive days were found to be consistent. This method was used to compare the effect of the antihypertensive drugs, phenoxybenzamine and nifedipine, in modifying the blood pressure responses of 12 tetraplegic patients. Given as regular medication twice daily, neither drug was effective in preventing A.D. responses to bladder filling, and a significant number of patients developed troublesome hypotension. Nifedipine by mouth was found to be a valuable drug for the treatment of attacks which developed, and capable of preventing an anticipated attack if given shortly before the stimulus. The condition of 'status dysreflexicus' and its appropriate management is described.
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