[Paraplegia as a risk following catheterization of the umbilical artery. Report of a case and bibliographic review].

A case of paraplegia in a female newborn in whom an umbilical catheter was inserted for treatment of fetal maternal isoimmunization with exchange transufsion is presented. Paraplegia was diagnosed in the fifth day after the procedure was performed. A left transfemoral angiography demonstrated the absence of the segmentary artery of Adamkiewicz at the level of T-11, which is responsible of circulation of the lower segment of the spinal cord; paraplegia was considered to be secondary to spinal cord infarction due to thrombosis; other causes of spinal block were ruled out. Review of the literature shows several reports of manifestations of thrombosis after catheterization of umbilical vessels.