Predictors of outcome in patients with spinal cord ischemia after open aortic repair.

INTRODUCTION: Spinal cord ischemia is a potentially devastating complication of thoracic aortic surgery. However, predictors of outcome have not been well characterized. The study objective was to generate a prognostic score that accurately stratifies patient outcomes, aiding in future management and planning. METHODS: A retrospective review of 224 consecutive open thoracic aortic surgeries identified patients with spinal cord ischemia, defined as changes on intraoperative somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP) and/or paraparesis/paraplegia postoperatively. The outcome of interest was poor outcome, defined as death or discharge with a lower extremity motor score ≤40, indicating impaired ambulation. Demographic and clinical characteristics were tested in univariate analyses and significant factors were incorporated in multivariate modeling to determine independent predictors of poor outcome. RESULTS: Seventy-five patients were identified with spinal cord ischemia, of which 43(57 %) had poor outcomes including 28(37 %) that died prior to discharge. Factors associated with poor outcome in univariate analysis included absent lumbar CSF drain (p = 0.03), surgical repair that crossed the diaphragm (p = 0.002), permanent intraoperative SSEP change (p = 0.02), postoperative renal failure (p = 0.004), paraplegia (p = 0.001), and concomitant stroke (p = 0.04). In multivariable analysis, surgical repair crossing the diaphragm (OR 4.8, CI 1.4-16.7, p = 0.02), paraplegia (OR 4.5, CI 1.4-14.0, p = 0.01), and renal failure (OR 6.1, CI 1.7-21.2, p = 0.005) were independently associated with poor outcome. Patients with transient intraoperative neurophysiologic changes were least likely to have poor outcome when compared to patients with no or permanent SSEP changes, and those not monitored (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Development of spinal cord ischemia with thoracic aortic repair often leads to death or disability. Characteristics known at the time of event can accurately predict the likelihood of poor outcome.

Paraplegia and paraparesis after descending thoracic aortic aneurysm repair: a risk factor analysis.

BACKGROUND: The risk factors of paraplegia and paraparesis (P/P) after surgical repair of descending thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) are controversial. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy five patients underwent surgical repair of descending TAA from 2001 through 2002. The mean age was 64.2+/-5.2 years old (range; 26-81) and 58 patients (77.3%) are male. There were 47 patients (62.7%) with nondissecting aortic aneurysm and 28 patients (37.3%) with chronic dissecting aortic aneurysm. Emergent operation was performed in 13 cases (17.3%). Retrospective analysis based on data of these 75 patients was performed to determine the risk factors of P/P. RESULTS: 30-days hospital mortality was 2.7%. The overall incidence of P/P was 12.0% (9/75) overall (immediate paraplegia; 4 (5.3%), delayed paraplegia; 1 (1.3%), immediate paraparesis; 3 (4.0%), delayed paraparesis; 1 (1.3%)). Logistic regression analysis revealed that predictive factors of the development of P/P were; cases in which the distal part (below Th9) of the descending thoracic aorta was included in the extent of graft replacement (P=0.020; odds ratio (OR), 7.981) and nondissecting aneurysm (P=0.029; OR, 12.109). CONCLUSION: There was an increased risk of P/P after descending TAA repair in cases in which the extent of graft replacement included below the Th9 or in cases with nondissecting aortic aneurysm.

Survival, complications and outcome in 282 patients operated for neurological deficit due to thoracic or lumbar spinal metastases.

We present survival, neurological function, and complications in a consecutive series of 282 patients operated for spinal metastases from January 1990 to December 2001. Our main surgical indication throughout this time period was neurological deficit rather than pain. Metastases from cancer of the prostate accounted for 40%, breast 15%, kidney 8%, and lung 7%. In 78% the level of decompression was thoracic and lumbar in 22%. Thirteen percent had a single metastases only, 64% had multiple skeletal metastases, and 23% had non-skeletal metastases also. Preoperatively 64% were non-walkers (Frankel A-C), 30% could walk with aids (Frankel D) and 8% had normal motor function (Frankel E). Posterior decompression and stabilization was applied in 212 patients, 47 had laminectomy only, and 23 had anterior decompressions and reconstruction. Complications were recorded at a level of 20%, and systemic complications were often associated with early death. The survival rate was 0.63 at 3 months, 0.47 at 6 months, 0.30 at 1 year, and 0.16 at 2 years. Twelve of 255 (5%) patients with motor deficits were worsened postoperatively, whereas 179 (70%) improved at least one Frankel grade. The ability to walk postoperatively was retained during follow-up in more than 80% of the patients. This study shows that important improvement of function can be gained by surgical treatment, but the complication rate was high and many patients died of their disease within the first months of surgery.

Neurologic outcome after thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

BACKGROUND: Neurologic deficit (paraparesis and paraplegia) after repair of the thoracic and thoracoabdominal aorta remains a devastating complication. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of cerebrospinal fluid drainage and distal aortic perfusion upon neurologic outcome during repair of thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) repair. METHODS: Between February 1991 and March 2000, we performed 654 repairs of the thoracic and thoracoabdominal aorta. The median age was 67 years and 420 (64%) patients were male. Forty-five cases (6.9%) were performed emergently. Distribution of TAAA was the following: extent I, 164 (25%); extent II, 165 (25%); extent III, 61 (9%); extent IV, 95 (15%); extent V, 23 (3.5%); and descending thoracic, 147 (22%). The adjuncts cerebrospinal fluid drainage and distal aortic perfusion were used in 428 cases (65%). RESULTS: Thirty-day mortality was 14% (94 of 654). The in-hospital mortality was 16% (106 of 654). Early neurologic deficits occurred in 33 patients (5.0%). Overall, 14 of 428 (3.3%) neurologic deficits were observed in the adjunct group, and 19 of 226 (8.4%) in the nonadjunct group (p = 0.004). When the adjuncts were used during extent II repair, the incidence was 10 of 129 (7.8%) compared with 11 of 36 (30.6%) in the nonadjunct group (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that risk factors for neurologic deficit were cerebrovascular disease and extent of TAAA (II and III) (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The combined adjuncts of distal aortic perfusion and cerebrospinal fluid drainage demonstrated improved neurologic outcome with repair of thoracic and TAAAs. In extent II aneurysms, adjuncts continue to make a considerable difference in the outcome and to provide significant protection against spinal cord morbidity. Future research should focus on spinal cord protection in patients with high-risk extent II aneurysms.

Descending thoracic aortic aneurysm: surgical approach and treatment using the adjuncts cerebrospinal fluid drainage and distal aortic perfusion.

BACKGROUND: Neurologic deficit (paraplegia or paraparesis) remains a significant morbidity in the repair of descending thoracic aortic aneurysm. METHODS: Between February 1991 and February 2000, we operated on 182 patients for descending thoracic aortic aneurysm. For the purpose of this study-to identify the impact of the combined adjuncts distal aortic perfusion and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage on neurologic outcome-we selected the 148 of 182 nonemergent patients who had received conventional treatment (simple cross-clamping with or without adjuncts). The mean patient age was 61 years, and 49 of the 148 (33%) patients were women. Nine of the 148 patients (6%) had acute type B dissections. We compared the results of 105 of the 148 patients (71%) who received the combined adjuncts of CSF drainage and distal aortic perfusion with the remaining 43 (29%) patients who underwent repair using the simple cross-clamp with or without the addition of a single adjunct. RESULTS: Overall 30-day mortality was 13 of 148 patients (8.8%). Overall early neurologic deficit was 4 of 148 (2.7%): 1 of 105 (0.9%) patients who had received distal aortic perfusion and CSF drainage, versus 3 of 43 (7%) in all other patients (p < 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: In our practice the use of the combined adjuncts of CSF drainage and distal aortic perfusion has all but eliminated the incidence of immediate postoperative neurologic deficit in nonemergent patients with aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta.