In a patient with head injury, unexplained hypotension warrants evaluation of:: (A) Upper cervical spine, (B) Lower cervical spine, (C) Thoracic spine, (D) Lumbar spine
Answer is C. High thoracic or cervical cord transection causes hypotension and bradycardia due to functional sympathectomy (sometimes with Horner syndrome). Ref: Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 15th Edition, Page 2441; Surgery: Basic Science and Clinical Evidence By Jeffrey A. Noon, Philip S. Barie, Randall Bollinger, 2008, Page 314