Reversal of delayed-onset paraplegia after thoracic aortic surgery with cerebrospinal fluid drainage.

We report two patients who had postoperative reversal of delayed-onset paraplegia after cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage after type I thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair. CSF drainage was not initiated before operation because of the urgent presentation of both patients. Decompression of the spinal canal by CSF drainage may improve spinal cord circulation in certain patients and may avoid or decrease neurologic injury. In view of the low morbidity of this intervention, we recommend routine CSF drainage during elective repair of thoracic and thoracoabdominal aneurysms.