[Gradual postischemic reoxygenation as protection against spinal cord ischemia in an experiment]

The authors attempted reperfusion on the experimental model of spinal ischemia described most frequently in the literature. After double ligature of the aorta--closely beneath the insertion of the subclavian artery and closely above the diaphragm they induced for a period of 40 minutes a state similar to surgery of aneurysms of the thoracoabdominal part of the aorta. in 8 dogs of the control group 7 animals developed paraplegia. In the group with graded postischaemic reoxygenation induced by a change of the ventilation ratio of N2O:O2 none of the dogs was paralyzed after two days survival. The neurological condition evaluated according to Tarlov's score was consistent with the histological finding in the preparations of the spinal cord stained according to Naut. Degenerative changes of interneurons were found mainly in the control group. In the group with graded reoxygenation they were rare. This method confirmed the importance of the reperfusion stage for postischaemic damage of the spinal cord.