Related Experiment Videos
An approach to spinal cord protection during descending or thoracoabdominal aortic repairs
1Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Lahey Hitchcock Clinic, Burlington, Massachusetts 01805, USA.
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery
|July 3, 1999
Abstract
Background:
During the past few years, after much research, progress has been made in reducing the risk of spinal cord injury after descending or thoracoabdominal aortic repairs.
Methods:
Based on that research I describe a method to reduce the risk of spinal cord injury.
Results:
Our data show that with this technique, less than 5% of our patients had a permanent injury whereby they are unable to walk.
Conclusion:
The use of intrathecal papaverine, cerebrospinal fluid drainage, hypothermia, and reimplantation of intercostal arteries from below T6 to and including L1 are recommended.