Spinal cord protection during thoracoabdominal aortic replacement: spinal cord perfusion maintenance

OBJECTIVES: Spinal cord protection during thoracoabdominal aortic surgery is challenging for surgeons. We performed thoracoabdominal replacement using a strategy for maintaining spinal cord perfusion pressure. Here, we report our experience with this procedure and the surgical outcomes. METHODS: Between January 2000 and December 2014, 130 patients [male: 91 (74.6%), female: 39 (25.4%); mean age: 66.6 +/- 12.8 years] underwent thoracoabdominal replacement using cardiopulmonary bypass at Hiroshima Shimin Hospital, Japan. The surgical outcomes of these patients were analysed. RESULTS: The in-hospital mortality rate of all patients was 2.5%. The incidence of postoperative paraplegia was 3.8%. Aortic event-free survival rates at 1, 3 and 5 years were 98.2%, 93.9% and 80.7%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that our strategy for maintaining spinal cord perfusion pressure provides acceptable outcomes.