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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2007; 55(2): 73-78
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-924708
Original Cardiovascular

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Efficacy and Frequency of Cerebrospinal Fluid Drainage in Operative Management of Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysms

E. Weigang1 , R. Sircar2 , P. von Samson1 , M. Hartert1 , M. P. Siegenthaler1 , M. Luehr1 , H. Richter1 , G. Szabó3 , M. Czerny4 , J. Zentner2 , F. Beyersdorf1
  • 1Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
  • 2Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
  • 3Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
  • 4Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Vienna Medical School, Vienna, Austria
Further Information

Publication History

received Feb 22, 2006

Publication Date:
21 March 2007 (online)

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Abstract

Background: Paraplegia remains the most dreaded complication following thoracoabdominal aortic repair. We investigated the efficacy of cerebrospinal fluid drainage as a spinal cord-protecting modality. We also evaluated the correlation between the frequency of cerebrospinal fluid drainage and the Crawford classification. Methods: Spinal cord function was monitored during 20 open surgical procedures (group I) and 27 stent-graft implantations (group II). Evoked potentials and intracranial pressure were monitored in each operation. If intracranial pressure exceeded 15 mmHg, cerebrospinal fluid was drained. Results: Cerebrospinal fluid drainage was necessary in 75 % of patients in group I (Crawford type I: 33 %, type II: 40 %, type III: 20 %, type IV: 7 %) and in 22 % of patients in group II (Crawford type I: 33 %, type II: 66 %). Evoked potential alterations correlated with an increase in intracranial pressure. Timely cerebrospinal fluid drainage reversed these changes in 72 %. Three patients remained paraplegic. Conclusion: Cerebrospinal fluid drainage is a valuable neuroprotective interventional tool to lower the risk of spinal cord ischemia. The combination of neurophysiological monitoring and cerebrospinal fluid drainage optimizes the prevention of paraplegia during aortic repair.

Key words

aortic disease - aortic surgery - endovascular stent graft - spinal cord ischemia - evoked potential - cerebrospinal fluid drainage

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MD, MBA Ernst Weigang

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery
University Medical Center Freiburg

Hugstetter Straße 55

79106 Freiburg

Germany

Phone: + 49 76 12 70 88 88

Fax: + 49 76 12 70 28 67

Email: ernst.weigang@web.de

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