Autonomic dysreflexia resulting from prolapsed hemorrhoids. Report of a case.

PURPOSE: This article reports a case of autonomic dysreflexia associated with hemorrhoidal disease in a patient with high spinal cord lesions and successful treatment by surgical hemorrhoidectomy.

METHODS

Following an unsuccessful attempt at conservative treatment which included bulk agents and warm compresses, the patient subsequently underwent three-column, closed surgical hemorrhoidectomy.

RESULTS

The patient was symptom free and had normal bowel activity six weeks postoperatively, and five-year follow-up showed no recurrence of the hemorrhoidal prolapse or dysreflexia.

CONCLUSION

Carefully controlled hemorrhoidectomy, when conservative measures fail, may be effective in managing autonomic dysreflexia in high spinal cord transection patients when prolapse serves as the stimulus.