Pulmonary Dysfunction As a Member of Autonomic Dysfunction Family: From a Different Window

The purpose of this paper was to review autonomic dysfunction on respiratory system after spinal cord injury (SCI). As it is known, it is important to understand the impact of SCI on every autonomic function. Respiratory autonomic dysfunction has newly taken place in the literature on autonomic dysfunctions because of complex pattern of innervation of the respiratory system. In this complex pattern of innervation, both somatic and autonomic nervous system form the rhythm of the system. As a devastating condition, SCI leads to gross and irreversible changes in the somatic and autonomic nervous systems as well as the respiratory system itself. To understand the whys and hows of respiratory autonomic dysfunction are the first steps in the treatment of pulmonary dysfunction. Turk J Phys Med Re-hab 2012;58 Suppl 1: 16-20.