While caring for the patient with spinal cord injury (SCI), the nurse elevates the head of the bed, removes compression stockings, and continues to assess vital signs every two to three minutes while searching for the cause in order to prevent loss of consciousness or death. By practicing these interventions, the nurse is avoiding the most dangerous complication of autonomic dysreflexia, which is which of the following?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Autonomic dysreflexia is a potentially life-threatening emergency that can occur in people with spinal cord injuries above the level of T6. It is characterized by an uncontrolled and severe elevation in blood pressure that can lead to stroke or death if left untreated. Elevating the head of the bed, removing any constrictive clothing or devices, and assessing vital signs every two to three minutes can help identify the cause of autonomic dysreflexia and prevent a potentially fatal outcome. Hypoxia, bradycardia, and tachycardia can also occur as a result of autonomic dysreflexia, but elevated blood pressure is the most dangerous complication.

While Caring for the Patient with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)