Paraplegia in a patient with Marfan's syndrome as a result of a thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.
Marfan's syndrome is a hereditary disorder involving a deficit in connective tissue collagen. Physical findings include musculoskeletal, ocular, and cardiovascular abnormalities. A 29-year-old man with a history of Marfan's syndrome was admitted to the hospital with back and chest pain secondary to a dissecting aortic aneurysm. He later underwent surgical aortic bypass graft surgery. Postoperatively, he was paraplegic. Our impression was anterior spinal artery syndrome due to prolonged cross-clamping of the aorta during surgical repair. This paper shows the risk of paralysis resulting from surgical repair of an aortic aneurysm as a poorly documented complication of Marfan's syndrome.
Stewart
G W
GW
Section of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Louisiana State University Medical Center, New Orleans.
Elizondo
E R
ER
Harper
K
K
Biundo
J J
JJ
D000328:Adult; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008382:Marfan Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000209:etiology