Effects of prostacyclin on spinal cord ischemia: an experimental study.

BACKGROUND

Paraplegia after thoracic aortic aneurysm has an incidence of 2.2% to 24%. This study was planned to show the beneficial effects of prostacyclin on spinal cord ischemia.

METHODS

Twelve rabbits underwent 30 minutes of aortic occlusion. Six rabbits received prostacyclin, whereas the remaining rabbits did not. Prostacyclin administration was started with a rate of 5 ng/kg/min 5 minutes before aortic occlusion. This dosage was increased to 25 ng/kg/min during aortic occlusion. Prostacyclin administration after aortic occlusion was maintained for a period of 5 minutes. During this period, prostacyclin dosage was 5 ng/kg/min.

RESULTS

One rabbit in the prostacyclin group and five rabbits in the control group were paraplegic. Arterial pressure proximal to the clamp was 65 +/- 7 mm Hg before aortic occlusion and 78 +/- 10 mm Hg during aortic occlusion in the control group and 68 +/- 12 mm Hg before aortic occlusion and 65 +/- 6 mm Hg during aortic occlusion in the prostacyclin group. Arterial pressure distal to the clamp was 11 +/- 4 mm Hg during aortic occlusion in the control group and 18 +/- 5 mm Hg during aortic occlusion in the prostacyclin group (p = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

Intravenous prostacyclin reduced the neurologic injury caused by spinal cord ischemia and reperfusion after 30 minutes of aortic occlusion in the rabbit model.