Autonomic hyperreflexia in a pregnant paraplegic patient. Case report.
OBJECTIVE
Pregnant patients with spinal cord injuries are predisposed to autonomic hyperreflexia, which if unrecognized or untreated can lead to death. Hypertension occurring in laboring patients at risk for autonomic hyperreflexia must be managed aggressively.


METHODS
Epidural anesthesia can safely control autonomic hyperreflexia during labor and delivery, but because spinal cord impaired patients lack sensory and motor function below the level of injury, it is difficult to determine the dermatomal spread of epidural anesthesia by the usual methods. This difficulty is highlighted by the following case, reporting an epidural that failed during labor, with the subsequent development of autonomic hyperreflexia.


RESULTS
Previously, autonomic hyperreflexia occurring in pregnant patients (undergoing surgical procedures) was treated with intravenous antihypertensive agents. During labor, however, titrating these agents to coincide with uterine contractions is difficult. In this case, epidural anesthesia was repeated and the autonomic hyperreflexia resolved.


CONCLUSIONS
Autonomic hyperreflexia can develop in unanesthetized laboring paraplegic patients (failed epidural) but it can be successfully managed with adequate epidural anesthesia.
Owen
M D
MD
Department of Anesthesiology, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Saint Luke's Hospital.
Stiles
M M
MM
Opper
S E
SE
McNitt
J D
JD
Fibuch
E E
EE
D000328:Adult; D015360:Analgesia, Epidural; D016362:Analgesia, Obstetrical; D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural; D000773:Anesthesia, Obstetrical; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007751:Labor, Induced; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009407:Nerve Block; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012021:Reflex, Abnormal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology
D008012:Lidocaine; D002045:Bupivacaine