Early Autonomic Dysreflexia in Acute Paraplegia following Anterior Spinal Artery Thrombosis

This report discusses the diagnosis and management of autonomic dysreflexia. A 19-year-old man presented with an acute quadriplegia secondary to anterior spinal artery thrombosis. He required admission to the intensive care unit for ventilatory support and developed autonomic dysreflexia within 72 hours of his first symptoms, due to paralytic ileus with distension of the bowel. He was successfully treated by sublingual nifedipine and bowel decompression. Awareness of the potential for autonomic dysreflexia to occur in the acute phase of spinal cord injury will assist to direct management appropriately.