The Effect of lntermittant Loca/ Hypothermia in the Protection of Spinal Cord during the Aortic Surgery

Despite a considerable number of studies, no method has been found to completely prevent the ischemicdama­ ge to the spinal cord during the thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic surgery. in this study, the protective effects of intermittant cold saline (+4°C) infusion into the clamped abdominal aortic segment against ischemic spinal cord in­ jury in rats were investigated. Clamps were released after 30 minutes. Neurological assessment of the rats in the experimental and control groups were done by using Tarlov's criteria in 24th and 48th hours postoperatively. Parap­ legia or paraparesis were seen in ali of the animals in the control group. No neurologic defisit in 60%, and mild pa­ raparesis in 40% of animals were observed in the experimental group (P< 0.05). Histopathologic examination of the spinal cords revealed varying degrees of ischemic changes in the control group and minimal or no pathologic chan­ ges in the experimental group. We concluded that intermittant locally induced-hypothermia is a useful method in the protection of the spinal cord.