Ischaemic injury to the spinal cord as a complication to abdominal aortic surgery

Three cases of paraplegia following abdominal aortic surgery is described. 55 cases have been reported in the literature. 45 had an aortic aneurysm, 26 were ruptured, and 10 patients had occlusive arteriosclerotic disease. 31 patients had suffered from severe hypotension pre-, per- or postoperatively. The paraplegia is caused by spinal ischaemia caused by disruption of the blood supply to the anterior spinal artery. This consists in the abdomen mainly of one artery "the arteria radicularis magna". It is stated that the most important advice to avoid spinal ischaemia is to avoid hypotension pre-, per- and postoperatively.