Pregnancy complicated by chronic spinal cord injury and history of autonomic hyperreflexia
C S Pope1, G R Markenson, L A Bayer-Zwirello
1Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Baystate Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, 789 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA 01199, USA. cnjpope@worldnet.att.net
Background:
Women with spinal cord injuries are at risk for autonomic hyperreflexia during labor.
Case:
A 36-year-old woman, gravida 4, para 2, abortus 1, with a spinal cord injury and a positive antibody screen result had had a previous pregnancy complicated by autonomic hyperreflexia during labor. Autonomic hyperreflexia did not occur during serial amniocenteses and fetal transfusions for isoimmunization or intrapartum.
Conclusion:
Intrauterine procedures and vaginal delivery were accomplished without autonomic hyperreflexia in this pregnancy. Intrauterine procedures and vaginal delivery might be done safely in women with histories of autonomic hyperreflexia.
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