A patient with a complete cervical spinal cord injury develops a sudden drop in blood pressure to 82/50 mmHg, a heart rate of 48 beats per minute, and warm, flushed skin. The nurse recognizes these findings are most consistent with which pathophysiological explanation?
- Loss of sympathetic nervous system control below the injury level causes vasodilation and bradycardia.
- Increased parasympathetic tone is blocked by the injury, resulting in uncontrolled vasodilation.
- Elevated sodium levels from spinal cord inflammation cause fluid shifts leading to hypotension.
- Massive blood loss from the spinal injury causes compensatory tachycardia and peripheral vasoconstriction.