[Spinal cord protection and operative results of the thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm]

The purpose of this study was to review retrospectively recent results in 75 patients undergoing thoracoabdominal aortic operations using the technique of distal aortic perfusion with segmental aortic clamping. Between July 1997 and November 2003, 46 males (61%) and 29 females (39%) were treated. The patients ranged in age from 26 to 82 (mean 63 +/- 13) years. Indications for surgery included dissecting thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (n = 28), atherosclerotic thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (n = 46), and traumatic aneurysm (n = 1). Emergency operation was performed in 8 (11%). The extent of aneurysm was Crawford type I in 12 patients, type II in 19, type III in 34, and type IV in 10. Profound hypothermic circulatory arrest was used in 3 patients and retrograde segmental clamping technique in 5. Cerebrospinal fluid drainage and naloxone hydrochloride administration were performed as adjunctive methods since February 2000. There were 6 (8%) in-hospital deaths. The overall incidence of postoperative paraplegia or paraparesis was 8% (6/75). Although the survival rate has improved, the problem of a complete prevention of ischemic spinal cord injury on the thoracoabdominal aortic operations remains unsolved. The multimodality approach is needed to reduce the risk of this devastating complication.