Functional Outcome in Model of Spinal Cord Ischemia: Use of Enoximone

Ten dogs underwent 60 minutes of aortic occlusion; 5 received enoximone 10 μg·kg −1 ·min −1 and the other 5 served as controls. Distal and proximal aortic pressures were measured during the procedure. Neurological status was assessed after 72 hours. Spinal cord specimens were taken for electron microscopy. During aortic occlusion, cerebrospinal fluid pressure was 17 ± 3 mm Hg in the control group and 14 ± 4 mm Hg in the enoximone group, while distal aortic pressure was 15 ± 4 mm Hg in the control group compared to 47 ± 6 mm Hg in the enoximone group (p < 0.001). Four dogs in the control group suffered paraplegia but there was no paraplegia in the enoximone group (p < 0.01). Electron microscopy scores indicated significantly less ultrastructural damage (p < 0.01) in the enoximone group (2.73 ± 0.79) than in the control group (7.67 ± 0.89). It was concluded that enoximone was effective in reducing the risk of spinal cord injury during aortic crossclamping.