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Reproducible Motor Deficit Following Aortic Occlusion in a Rat Model Of Spinal Cord Ischemia
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Spinal cord ischemia following coronary artery bypass surgery

Pankaj Saxena1, Fariza Abu Hasan, Chris Merry

  • 1Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Dunedin Hospital, Dunedin, New Zealand. drpankajsaxena@hotmail.com

Journal of Cardiac Surgery
|October 14, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Paraplegia is a rare complication of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. This study describes a case of spinal cord ischemia leading to paraplegia after off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) surgery, a complication not previously documented.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Surgery
  • Neurology
  • Vascular Complications

Background:

  • Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery carries a minimal risk of paraplegia.
  • Spinal cord ischemia is a known, albeit rare, complication associated with CABG procedures.
  • Previous literature has not documented paraplegia specifically following off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) surgery.

Observation:

  • A patient developed paraplegia after undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) surgery.
  • This event represents a novel occurrence of spinal cord ischemia in the context of OPCAB.
  • The patient's outcome following the ischemic event was observed.

Findings:

  • This report details the first described instance of paraplegia resulting from spinal cord ischemia post-OPCAB surgery.
  • A review of existing literature on spinal cord ischemia following all types of CABG surgery was conducted.
  • The findings highlight a previously unrecognized risk associated with OPCAB procedures.

Implications:

  • The findings suggest a need to consider spinal cord ischemia as a potential complication of OPCAB surgery.
  • Further research may be warranted to understand the mechanisms and incidence of this complication.
  • Clinical vigilance for neurological deficits after OPCAB surgery should be enhanced.

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