Emergency thoracotomy with aortic cross-clamping for cardiac trauma can be complicated by spinal cord ischemia and paraparesis, potentially exacerbated by systemic hypotension.
Supports caution for paraparesis after resuscitative aortic occlusion in trauma; leaves open hypotension's contribution and need for further study.
Spinal cord ischemia complicating resuscitative aortic occlusion is reported in a patient requiring emergency thoracotomy and aortic cross-clamping following a stab wound to the heart. Paraparesis and ischemic myelopathy were documented in the absence of associated injury. The possible contribution of systemic hypotension to spinal cord ischemia following aortic occlusion is suggested.
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Connery et al. (1990) studied this question.
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