Ischemic damage to the spinal cord following surgery of the abdominal aorta

Ischemic damage to the spinal cord after reconstructive procedures of the abdominal aorta is a rare complication. The literature up to and including 1980 records 46 of these cases. In this paper we present four additional cases and discuss the etiological factors and the practical measures available to minimize the risk of this unpredictable complication.