SPINAL SHOCK

Course overview

SPINAL SHOCK IS A RESULT OF SEVERE SPINAL CORD INJURY. IT USUALLY REQUIRES HIGH-IMPACT, DIRECT TRAUMA THAT LEADS TO SEVERE SPINAL CORD INJURY AND SPINAL SHOCK. THE INITIAL ENCOUNTER WITH A PATIENT WITH SPINAL SHOCK IS USUALLY UNDER A TRAUMA SCENARIO. ISCHEMIA OF THE SPINAL CORD CAN ALSO PRODUCE SPINAL SHOCK; FOR EXAMPLE, A HYPOTENSIVE PATIENT IN THE MEDICAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT (ICU) OR A POST-ANGIOGRAPHY PATIENT WITH THROMBOTIC OCCLUSION OF ARTERIES THAT SUPPLY THE CERVICAL SPINE CAN DEVELOP THIS DISEASE. TREATMENT OF ISCHEMIC SPINAL SHOCK IS DIFFERENT FROM TRAUMATIC SPINAL SHOCK. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT OF SPINAL SHOCK AND EXPLAINS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN MANAGING PATIENTS AFFECTED BY THIS CONDITION.