[Effect of regional hypothermia on cerebrospinal fluid parameters during thoracoabdominal aorta clamping in dogs]

The most feared complication of thoracoabdominal clamping is the paraplegia or paraparesis following ischemic injury of the spinal cord. Early intraoperative recognition of this complication has not been solved yet. In our earlier experiment we found significant alterations of CSF glucose, lactate, pCO2 and Neuron Specific Enolase (NSE) levels during 60 minutes thoracoabdominal aortic clamping in dogs. The analysis of these parameters proved to be proper to follow metabolism of the spinal cord during this type of surgery. In our present paper we studied protective effect of regional hypothermia using peridural cooling by registration of above parameters. Statistical analysis of our data showed prevention of production of anaerobe metabolites in animals with icy peridural irrigation. The biochemical approach is appropriate for monitoring effectiveness of regional hypothermia of the spinal cord during aortic surgery.