title: Ischaemic spinal cord lesion following percutaneous radiofrequency spinal rhizotomy.
abstract: Two patients are presented in whom percutaneous radiofrequency spinal rhizotomy was complicated by contralateral paresis. Both patients were elderly and suffered from cardiac failure, chronic obstructive respiratory disease, and generalized vascular disease. Investigation of the paresis indicated a contralateral ischaemic cord lesion. It is suggested that local haemodynamic changes induced by heat-mediated rhizotomy may compromise oxygen delivery to the adjacent cord, especially in the presence of pre-existent cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, Medical Centre, LeeuwardenThe Netherlands Department of Neurology, Medical Centre, LeeuwardenThe Netherlands.
authors.forename: Henk M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Koning
authors.forename: Hans G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Koster
authors.forename: Rob P E
authors.initials: RPE
authors.lastname: Niemeijer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003714:Denervation; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D011846:Radio Waves; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000601:surgery*