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Fluoroscopic-Guided Lumbar Spinal Drain Insertion for Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Surgery
Hamdy Awad1, Mohamed Ehab Ramadan, Esmerina Tili
1From the *Department of Anesthesiology, The Ohio State University, Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio; †Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio; ‡The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio; and §Department of Radiology, Neurology and Neurological Surgery, The Ohio State University, Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio.
Fluoroscopy-guided lumbar spinal drain insertion is a safe and effective alternative for thoracic aortic aneurysm repair. This image-guided technique offers a viable option when conventional methods are challenging or unsuccessful.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Anesthesiology
- Vascular Surgery
Background:
- Thoracic aortic aneurysm repair necessitates precise spinal drain placement for patient management.
- Conventional non-image-guided spinal drain insertion techniques can present challenges for anesthesiologists.
- Interventional neuroradiology offers advanced imaging guidance for complex procedures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of fluoroscopy-guided lumbar spinal drain insertion.
- To compare fluoroscopy-guided technique with conventional methods for thoracic aortic aneurysm repair.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of medical records for 11 patients undergoing fluoroscopy-guided lumbar spinal drain insertion.
- Procedures performed between January 2010 and June 2015 by interventional neuroradiologists.
- Analysis of drain insertion success rates and complication incidence.
Main Results:
- Successful spinal drain insertion was achieved in all 11 patients (100%).
- Three patients (27.3%) experienced drain-related complications.
- Fluoroscopy guidance facilitated drain placement in cases of anticipated or actual difficulty.
Conclusions:
- Fluoroscopy-guided lumbar spinal drain insertion is a highly successful technique.
- It serves as a valuable alternative to blind insertion, particularly in complex cases.
- This method enhances safety and efficacy in managing patients undergoing thoracic aortic aneurysm repair.
