Obstetrical & gynecological survey
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Pregnancies in spinal cord-injured patients present unique clinical challenges to obstetric providers. Spinal cord injury (SCI) alters the function of multiple organ systems, and chronic medical conditions are extremely common in this patient population. Autonomic dysreflexia (ADR) is a potentially life-threatening complication of SCI, usually involving patients with spinal cord lesions at or above the T6 level. ⋯ A multidisciplinary team in a unit capable of invasive hemodynamic monitoring should deliver these patients. Epidural anesthesia should be administered early in labor to prevent ADR. If proper precautions are taken, most patients with SCI will have successful vaginal deliveries at term.