Spinal cord protection with the use of prostacyclin during aortic occlusion

This study was planned to investigate if prostacyclin (PGI2) would reduce spinal cord injury following aortic occlusion. Twelve dogs underwent 90 min of aortic occlusion. Six dogs received PGI2 and the remaining animals did not. PGI2 was administered at a dose of 25 ng/kg/min during occlusion of the aorta. There were five paraplegic animals in the control group and one in the PGI2 group 72 hr after aortic occlusion. Neurological recovery was better in the PGI2 group than in the control group (P < 0.05). Malondialdehyde level was 3.55 +/- 0.58 nmole/ml in the PGI2 group and 6.35 +/- 1.27 nmole/ml in the control group 60 min after aortic cross-clamp removal (P < 0.05). At the same time interval, protein thiol groups were 629 +/- 50 micromole/L in the PGI2 group and 376 +/- 69 micromole/L in the control group (P < 0.05). Distal arterial pressure and central venous pressure were 15 +/- 4 and 12 +/- 3 mm Hg in the control group and 33 +/- 5 and 7 +/- 1.6 mm Hg in the PGI2 group, respectively (P < 0.05). In this study exogenously administered PGI2 protected the spinal cord from the hazardous effects of aortic occlusion lasting 90 min.