EFFECTS OF PROSTACYCLIN ON SPINAL-CORD ISCHEMIA - AN EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY

Background. Paraplegia after thoracic aortic aneurysm has an incidence of 2.2% to 24%. This study was planned to show the beneficial effects of prostacyclin on spinal cord ischemia. Methods. Twelve rabbits unde rwent 30 minutes of aortic occlusion. Six rabbits received prostacycli n, whereas the remaining rabbits did not. Prostacyclin administration was started with a rate of 5 ng/kg/min 5 minutes before aortic occlusi on. This dosage was increased to 25 ng/kg/min during aortic occlusion. Prostacyclin administration after aortic occlusion was maintained for a period of 5 minutes. During this period, prostacyclin dosage was 5 ng/kg/min. Results. One rabbit in the prostacyclin group and five rabb its in the control group were paraplegic. Arterial pressure proximal t o the clamp was 65 +/- 7 mm Hg before aortic occlusion and 78 +/- 10 m m Hg during aortic occlusion in the control group and 68 +/- 12 mm Hg before aortic occlusion and 65 +/- 6 mm Hg during aortic occlusion in the prostacyclin group. Arterial pressure distal to the clamp was 11 /- 4 mm Hg during aortic occlusion in the control group and 18 +/- 5 m m Hg during aortic occlusion in the prostacyclin group (p = 0.02). Con clusions. Intravenous prostacyclin reduced the neurologic injury cause d by spinal cord ischemia and reperfusion after 30 minutes of aortic o cclusion in the rabbit model.