Autonomic dysreflexia and nursing interventions for patients with spinal cord injury

Abstract

This retrospective study, carried out in 2009, aimed to identify nursing diagnoses and interventions for the assistance of patients with spinal cord injury. Data were collected from the nursing records of 465 patients with SCI in the rehabilitation process. The nursing diagnosis Risk for autonomic dysreflexia was identified in 271 clinical records (58.3%), of whom, approximately 80 patients developed Autonomic dysreflexia. The predominance was in young males with a mean age of 35.7 years, with trauma being the primary cause of injury and a neurological level equal to or above the sixth thoracic vertebra. Nursing interventions were arranged in two groups: the first focused on prevention and the other on treatment. An intervention guide was developed; the guide may be used by nurses in their rehabilitation practice and should be inserted in information systems. Removal of the stimulus inducing autonomic dysreflexia was identified as the most effective therapy and the best intervention.