A new technique using somatosensory evoked potential guidance during descending and thoracoabdominal aortic repairs

Recent work in our laboratory has demonstrated the effectiveness of somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) in identifying the critical intercostal arteries (CICAs) for preserving spinal cord integrity during simulated aortic aneurysm repairs in the pig. Further studies have also demonstrated increased preservation of neurological function during prolonged aortic clamping if CICAs are perfused until ligation or clipping, as opposed to transaortic identification of back-bleeding intercostals and their subsequent ligation. We have developed a technique of repair of descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms and dissections that uses these principles. Since January 1993, 26 patients have undergone repair of their aortas using this new technique and SEP directed intercostal artery ablation. There were 22 (85%) long-term survivors among 10 thoracoabdominal and 16 descending aortic repairs. All patients with uncorrected abnormal SEP recordings developed paralysis; one patient who required reimplantation of an intercostal artery island into the aortic graft had normal neurological function postoperatively. Paraplegia was seen in only one of the surviving patients, but this patient had normal intra- and postoperative SEPs (4% false negative). Our experience suggests that SEP-guided obliteration of intercostal arteries while maintaining perfusion may be a useful approach to the surgical repair of descending and thoracoabdominal aortic disease.