Spinal Cord Injury Following Resection of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Abstract

Neurological disturbances following temporary occlusion of the abdominal aorta are reportedly rare. Cooley and De Bakey¹ have not encountered this complication in their vast experience with the surgical treatment of aneurysms and other lesions of the abdominal aorta. Further, Adams and Van Gertruyden,³ in a comprehensive study of this subject, have not found a single report of an ischemic lesion of the spinal cord following operation involving the infrarenal part of the aorta. They concluded that the blood supply to the spinal cord during temporary blockage of the abdominal aorta distal to the renal arteries is invariably sufficient to prevent ischemic injury to the spinal cord. The unexpected occurrence of neurological disturbances, consisting of urinary retention and rectal incontinence, in a 64-year-old man following resection of an abdominal aneurysm prompted this report. Report of Case A 64-year-old white man entered the hospital on March 12, 1957, for the