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Updated: Jul 10, 2026
Real-Time Assessment of Spinal Cord Microperfusion in a Porcine Model of Ischemia/Reperfusion
Published on: December 10, 2020
Open-heart operations in patients with a spinal cord injury
Danny Chu1, Faisal G Bakaeen, Salwa A Shenaq
1Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Baylor College of Medicine, 2002 Holcombe Blvd, OCL 112, Houston, TX 77030, USA. dchumd@gmail.com
Background:
The objective of our study was to evaluate the outcomes of open-heart surgery in patients with a spinal cord injury.
Methods:
A retrospective analysis of all patients (n = 8) with a spinal cord injury who underwent open-heart operations in a single institution from April 1994 to November 2006 was conducted.
Results:
All patients had a permanent spinal cord injury with levels ranging from T3 to L2 with a mean age of 62 years (range, 47-72). Seven coronary artery bypass operations and 2 aortic valve replacements were performed. The mean cardiac ejection fraction was 44% (range, 20-60). Seventy-five percent of the patients were extubated within 24 hours of the operation. A decubitus ulcer occurred in only 1 patient. The acute hospital stay averaged 14 days (range, 6-36). One patient died from multiorgan failure on postoperative day 13 giving an in-hospital 30-day mortality of 12.5%. The 5-year survival was 75% with a mean follow-up of 67 months (range, .5-129).
Conclusions:
Open-heart operations in patients with a spinal cord injury can be performed safely with acceptable early and late outcomes.
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