Minimally invasive segmental artery coil embolization for preconditioning of the spinal cord collateral network before one-stage descending and thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair.

OBJECTIVE: Paraplegia remains the most devastating complication after thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAA/A) repair. The collateral network (CN) concept of spinal cord perfusion suggests segmental artery (SA) occlusion to mobilize redundant intraspinal and paraspinal arterial sources and ultimately trigger arteriogenesis, leading to spinal cord blood flow restoration within 96 to 120 hours. This principle is used by the two-staged approach to TAA/A-repair--which has lead to an elimination of paraplegia in an experimental model. However, the clinical implementation of a two-staged surgical procedure is challenging, particularly in the absence of an appropriate vascular segment for a "staged" open anastomosis or an appropriate endovascular landing zone. Selective, transfemoral minimally invasive SA coil embolization (MISACE) could provide the solution for one-stage repair of extensive aortic pathologies by triggering arteriogenic CN preconditioning and thereby allowing for recruitment of otherwise redundant arterial collaterals to the spinal cord.
METHODS: The feasibility of MISACE was explored in a single animal using an established piglet model. A 6F sheet was introduced via the femoral artery, and a 4F standard Judkins catheter was used for selective angiography and coil insertion. All thoracic and lumbar aortic SAs (15 pairs; Th4-L5) were successfully identified by dye injection. Pediatric platinum endovascular coils (Trufill Pushable Coils, 3 × 20 mm; Cordis, Waterloo, Belgium) were deployed to serially occlude the SA mimicking a CN preconditioning procedure.
RESULTS: All intercostal (thoracic) and lumbar aortic SAs (Th4-L5) were successfully identified and occluded by coil embolization. Successful SA coil embolization was verified intraoperatively by selective dye injection on angiography. No intraoperative coil dislodgement occurred. Autopsy revealed complete occlusion of all embolized SAs enhanced by early local thrombus formation. Thrombotic material was found only distally to the coils. No SA dissection was observed at the aortic SA origins.
CONCLUSIONS: The MISACE technique allows for rapid serial endovascular occlusion of all thoracic and lumbar SAs. This new innovative approach bares the potential to CN preconditioning at the respective level of aortic pathology--to allow for adequate perioperative spinal cord blood supply--before conventional open or endovascular surgery. Selective, transarterial MISACE might lead to a dramatic reduction of ischemic spinal cord injury after open and endovascular TAA/A repair in the future.