[Cerebrospinal fluid drainage to protect the spinal cord during surgical repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm].

Spinal cord injury is a serious complication of aortic cross-clamping during thoracoabdominal aortic surgery. We report the case of a 59-year-old man whose mycotic pseudoaneurysm in the thoracoabdominal aorta was repaired surgically. Cerebrospinal fluid pressure was monitored and the fluid was drained to protect the spinal cord while the aorta was clamped. A 19-G epidural catheter was inserted into the subarachnoid space using a paramedian approach form L2-L3. The aorta was clamped at the thoracic level in the descending distal portion and at the abdominal level above the kidney, for a period of 61 minutes. A total of 65 ml of cerebrospinal fluid was drained. The early postoperative period was uneventful and tubes were removed 40 hours after surgery. The results of neurological examination were normal. One week later the patient developed a respiratory infection, which was followed by multi-organ failure and died 22 days after the operation. We discuss the case and review the various alternatives available for protecting the spinal cord during surgery on the thoracoabdominal aorta.