[Extensive Spinal Cord Infarction Subsequent to Total Arch Replacement for Stanford Type A Acute Aortic...

A 53-year-old male, diagnosed with Stanford A acute aortic dissection, underwent a total arch replacement with a conventional elephant trunk. During the extubation phase, paraplegia and sensory disturbance were identified, prompting suspicion of spinal cord injury (SCI) attributed to thrombosis of the false lumen and subsequent obstruction of the segmental arteries. Apixaban was administered in addition to spinal drainage, meticulous blood pressure management, and administration of mannitol, edaravone, naloxone, and prednisolone. Postoperative computed tomography angiography disclosed the thrombosis of false lumen proximal to Th9 level while magnetic resonance imaging detected findings consistent with infarction in the spinal cord distal to Th3. Unfortunately, his symptoms persisted, necessitating transfer to rehabilitation facility on the 37th day postoperatively. Despite preventive measures including avoidance of too long elephant trunk, extensive false lumen thrombosis could cause SCI. While the literature reports the efficacy of anticoagulation therapy, such intervention was ineffective in our case.