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Ischaemic spinal cord injury following a coronary angiogram: a case report
1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Royal Jordanian Rehabilitation Centre, King Hussein Medical Centre, Amman, Jordan.
Insights
A patient developed spinal cord ischemia and paraplegia after a coronary angiogram, a rare complication. This case highlights a potential risk associated with the common cardiac procedure.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Neurology
- Vascular Surgery
Background:
- Coronary angiography is a standard diagnostic procedure for coronary artery disease.
- Complications, while rare, can occur and impact patient outcomes.
- Spinal cord ischemia is an uncommon but severe adverse event.
Abstract:
A 50 year old man was undergoing a coronary angiogram in preparation for possible cardiac bypass surgery at Queen Alia Heart Institute (QAHI) in King Hussein Medical Centre (KHMC) in Amman, Jordan. At the end of the procedure, he suddenly developed low back pain and weakness of both lower limbs. Neurological examination revealed incomplete paraplegia below L1 with urinary retention. Urgent MRI scan suggested ischaemia of the lower part of the spinal cord. Literature search revealed that no such complication of this procedure, which is a common investigation in cardiac centres, has, to date, been reported. The possible causes of this patient's paraplegia are discussed.