Cerebrospinal Fluid Drainage for Prevention of Spinal Cord Ischemia in Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Surgery—Pros and Cons
Hesham Ellauzi, Harendra Arora, John A. Elefteriades, Mohammad A. Zaffar, Rama Ellauzi, Wanda M. Popescu
Abstract
Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) carries a risk of spinal cord ischemia (SCI) which exerts a devastating impact on patient's quality of life and life expectancy. Although routine prophylactic cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage is not unequivocally supported by current data, several studies have demonstrated favorable outcomes. Patients at high risk for SCI following TEVAR likely will benefit from prophylactic CSF drains. However, the intervention is not risk free, and thorough risk/benefit analysis should be individualized to each patient.
Topics & Concepts
MedicineCerebrospinal fluidSpinal cordAortic surgeryAortic repairSurgeryconsParaplegiaIschemiaAnesthesiaInternal medicineAortaPsychiatryComputer scienceProgramming languageAortic Disease and Treatment ApproachesAortic aneurysm repair treatmentsInfectious Aortic and Vascular Conditions