Use of selective hypothermia to protect the spinal cord during resection of thoracoabdominal aneurysms.

Neurologic complications remain a threat to patients after repair of thoracoabdominal thoracic aneurysms. We have recently used a simple technique of selective hypothermia during such repairs in 7 high-risk patients. None of the patients had neurologic complications. In the 1st patient, we used cardiopulmonary bypass, but we have subsequently found that the procedure can be performed safely without an oxygenator in the circuit by using only a centrifugal pump, heat exchanger, thermistor, and pressure gauge. We believe that this technique deserves additional consideration for avoiding neurologic complications after repair of such lesions.