Spinal Cord Ischemia Following Mobilization of Canine Aorta from Posterior Parietes

Abstract

Attachment of the aorta to the posterior parietes by the parietal arteries was arbitrarily divided into 5 segments according to the aortic level; the distal aortic arch, the upper descending thoracic aorta, the lower descending thoracic aorta, the upper abdominal aorta, and the lower abdominal aorta. A total of 100 animals were segregated into 10 groups according to the single segment or combination of aortic segments of aorta mobilized from the posterior parietes. Mobilization of a single aortic segment or a combination of 2 consecutive aortic segments produced detectable spinal cord damage in only 3 (7.9%) of 39 animals. Mobilization of a combination of 3 or 4 consecutive aortic segments produced spinal cord injury in 41 (87%) of 47 animals. Although species differences prevent direct extrapolation from dog to man, there appears to be a gross correlation between the experimental and clinical data.