title: Paraplegia after routine cardiac surgery: a rare complication.
abstract: Two cases of spinal cord infarction with clinical paraplegia are discussed in patients undergoing elective and uncomplicated cardiac procedures with cardiopulmonary bypass. In both cases, the primary etiology was likely peripheral embolization. Other possible etiologies are reviewed, previously reported cases are discussed, and possible solutions to avoid this devastating problem are addressed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
authors.forename: Marc P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Pelletier
authors.forename: Abdulaziz Ali
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Al-Khaldi
authors.forename: Gerald J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Berry
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Morin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000601:surgery*; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000601:surgery*; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000209:etiology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000098:blood supply