BACKGROUND: Thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair carries a risk of spinal cord ischemia(SCI), similar to open repair. We conducted a retrospective study of the incidence and outcome of SCI after thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR). METHODS: From March 2007 to September 2012, 96 patients underwent TEVAR at Saitama Cardiovascular and Respiratory Center. A loss of lower extremity motor evoked potentials (MEP) or lower extremity strength was treated emergently to maintain a mean arterial blood pressure ≥ 70-80 mmHg. For the protection of spinal cord, combined use of naloxone and cerebrospinal fluid drainage (≤ 13 mmHg) was employed. RESULTS: 4 (4.2%) of the 96 patients had paraplegia. One had lower extremity strength loss after extubation and 3 developed delayed-onset paraparesis/paraplegia. Afterward 2 (50%) of them were dead. SCI patients were more likely to be elderly (78 ± 5.5 vs 70 ± 7.1 years; P = 0.0476). A trend toward an increase in SCI was noted in women (25.0% vs 2.2%; P = 0.0338), and in length of aortic coverage (25.9 ± 2.6 cm vs 16.2 ± 5.6 cm; P = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Early detection and intervention to improve spinal cord perfusion may benefit patients at risk for SCI.
BACKGROUND: Thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair carries a risk of spinal cord ischemia(SCI), similar to open repair. We conducted a retrospective study of the incidence and outcome of SCI after thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR). METHODS: From March 2007 to September 2012, 96 patients underwent TEVAR at Saitama Cardiovascular and Respiratory Center. A loss of lower extremity motor evoked potentials (MEP) or lower extremity strength was treated emergently to maintain a mean arterial blood pressure ≥ 70-80 mmHg. For the protection of spinal cord, combined use of naloxone and cerebrospinal fluid drainage (≤ 13 mmHg) was employed. RESULTS: 4 (4.2%) of the 96 patients had paraplegia. One had lower extremity strength loss after extubation and 3 developed delayed-onset paraparesis/paraplegia. Afterward 2 (50%) of them were dead. SCI patients were more likely to be elderly (78 ± 5.5 vs 70 ± 7.1 years; P = 0.0476). A trend toward an increase in SCI was noted in women (25.0% vs 2.2%; P = 0.0338), and in length of aortic coverage (25.9 ± 2.6 cm vs 16.2 ± 5.6 cm; P = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Early detection and intervention to improve spinal cord perfusion may benefit patients at risk for SCI.