Surgery of descending aorta. A method of autotransfusion and intercostal artery preservation

Paraplegia is a tragic complication of surgery of the descending aorta. It is unpredictable and occurs with a similar incidence with or without distal circulatory support. Hypotension, prolonged aortic cross clamp time, and ligation of intercostal arteries have been considered causative factors. Recent experience with ten consecutive patients undergoing descending aortic surgery without shunts employed a method of autotransfusion and intercostal preservation. There were no deaths, renal failure, or paraplegia. The perioperative blood requirement per patient was 2.4 units of blood.