Spinal cord injury in endovascular thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair: prevalence, risk factors and preventive strategies

Thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms are among the most challenging pathologic conditions vascular surgeons have to face. Endovascular treatment brought the prospect of being able to treat these complex aneurysms with less invasiveness and recent outcomes already challenge those of open repair. Plus, this technique offers a therapeutic option for patients who had none, due to significant comorbidities limiting open repair. Spinal cord injury is a major complication after complex aneurysm repair that dramatically affects patient's quality of life, even if technical success - aneurysm exclusion from circulation - has been achieved. Several strategies to prevent this terrible outcome have been developed, with remarkable success in narrowing down the number of patients who will suffer this complication. This comprehensive review covers how the standard of care for thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms has evolved over time, how the understanding of spinal cord perfusion has changed in light of the collateral network concept, the risk factors associated with SCI, and details preventive strategies applied in current practice to lessen even further the frequency of spinal cord injury. Strategies covered go from the traditional adjuncts comprising hemodynamic control, neuroprotective drugs, neuromonitoring and cerebrospinal fluid drainage to emerging and innovative techniques such as near-infrared spectroscopy, two-step repair, minimally-invasive selective segmental artery coil-embolization, temporary aneurysm sac perfusion, and techniques for earlier pelvic and lower limb reperfusion.