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Acute thoracic aortic occlusion resulting from complex aortic dissection and presenting as paraplegia
P Krishnamurthy1, K Chandrasekaran, J R Rodriguez Vega
1Likoff Cardiovascular Institute, Hahnemann University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102.
Journal of Thoracic Imaging
|January 1, 1994
Summary
Acute paraplegia due to aortic issues requires immediate surgery to prevent permanent spinal cord damage. Transesophageal echocardiography aids in rapid diagnosis and treatment planning for aortic dissection causing paralysis.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Neurology
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Acute paraplegia can result from aortic emergencies like occlusion or dissection.
- Timely diagnosis and intervention are critical to prevent irreversible spinal cord injury.
- Traditional aortography is a common diagnostic tool for suspected aortic lesions causing paralysis.
Observation:
- Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is increasingly utilized for aortic assessment.
- TEE enables prompt, bedside diagnosis of aortic dissection.
- This imaging modality successfully identified the cause of spinal cord ischemia in the presented cases.
Findings:
- Transesophageal echocardiography is effective in diagnosing aortic dissection causing acute paraplegia.
- TEE provides rapid and accurate etiological definition of spinal cord ischemia secondary to aortic pathology.
- Early diagnosis via TEE facilitates timely surgical management.
Implications:
- Transesophageal echocardiography can significantly improve outcomes for patients with acute paraplegia due to aortic dissection.
- Integrating TEE into the emergency workup can expedite treatment for this surgical emergency.
- This approach may reduce the incidence and severity of permanent neurological deficits.