Abstract
Paraplegic women with complete lesions of the spinal cord at and above the splanchnic outflow (T5) develop during the final stages of labour, especially just before and during delivery, the classical symptoms of reflex-hyperactivity of autonomic mechanisms (hypertension, bradycardia, outburst of vaso-dilatation of the face, headaches, and sweating). These symptoms are closely related to the uterine contractions and disappear or are greatly diminished during the free intervals.
A case of a woman with a complete transverse lesion below T5 is described, where, during the uterine contractions in the later stages of labour and during delivery, profound disturbances of the cardiac rhythm were observed and studied in detail electrocardiographically. These arrhythmias accompanying the intermittent hypertension were closely related to the uterine contractions.
The mechanism of the cardiac arrhythmias is discussed.
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Guttmann, L., Frankel, H. & Paeslack, V. Cardiac irregularities during labour in paraplegic women. Spinal Cord 3, 144–151 (1965). https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.1965.14
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.1965.14