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Summary of the Day

Postoperative Visual Loss

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Question of the Day

A 30-year-old man with history of motor vehicle accident 5 years ago with spinal cord injury at T5 is brought to the operating room for cystoscopy and ureteral stent placement. Under general endotracheal anesthesia, his blood pressure increases to 200/100 mmHg and his heart rate is 50 bpm. Which of the following medications can be used to PREVENT this phenomenon?

Question of the Day
A 30-year-old man with history of motor vehicle accident 5 years ago with spinal cord injury at T5 is brought to the operating room for cystoscopy and ureteral stent placement. Under general endotracheal anesthesia, his blood pressure increases to 200/100 mmHg and his heart rate is 50 bpm. Which of the following medications can be used to PREVENT this phenomenon?
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Correct Answer

Explanation

Autonomic dysreflexia (AD) is medical emergency commonly seen in patients with a T6 or higher spinal cord injury. Initially after spinal cord injury there is hypotension and bradycardia but after this period exaggerated reflexes are thought to develop that lead to an autonomic imbalance resulting in splanchnic and peripheral vasoconstriction with noxious stimuli. Most commonly there is severe hypertension with bradycardia. Flushing, blotching, nasal congestion and sweating are seen above the level of injury as a compensatory mechanism. The most common trigger (85%) of autonomic dysreflexia includes genitourinary issues such as bladder distension or procedures. The second most common precipitating factor is gastrointestinal pathology such as constipation. Prophylaxis against these episodes consists of wearing loose fitting clothing, good urological and gastrointestinal care, and alpha adrenoceptor blockade with medication such as terazosin or prazosin. A neuraxial technique (or general anesthetic) can be used in patients who are susceptible to AD and may be appropriate.

OA Series: October 2025

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OA-POCUS Case of the Month

October 2025 POCUS Case of the Month: Lung Ultrasound

Mitchell Fuller, MD, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, William Lao, MD, New York, NY, Ying Hui Low, MD, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH