Effect of temporary visceral ischemia on spinal cord ischemic damage in the rabbit.
BACKGROUND
Spinal cord ischemia and visceral ischemia may occur simultaneously during thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair. The present rabbit study investigated the effect of a temporary interruption of the visceral perfusion on the development of ischemia-reperfusion injury of the spinal cord.


METHODS
Spinal cord ischemia was induced by occlusion of the infrarenal aorta for variable durations (6 to 20 minutes) in 32 rabbits. In the visceral ischemia group, 20-minute concurrent clamping of the celiac trunk and mesenteric arteries was performed. At 24, 48, and 72 hours after ischemia, neurologic outcome was assessed in the control and visceral ischemia group. The PD50 (the duration of ischemia that produces lower limb neurologic deficits in 50% of the animals) was determined by quantal bioassay analysis. At 72 hours, histologic evaluation of spinal cord infarct size was performed.


RESULTS
Compared with control animals, PD50 was significantly longer in the visceral ischemia group at 48 hours and 72 hours after ischemia. Neurologic and histologic outcomes correlated well (r = -0.90).


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the present rabbit study suggest that concurrent temporary visceral ischemia does not aggravate spinal cord ischemic injury in the rabbit. Moreover, the results suggest that concurrent visceral ischemia may increase the tolerance of the spinal cord to ischemic damage.
Department of Anesthesiology, St. Antonius Ziekenhuis Nieuwegein, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands.
Paul W G
PW
Elbers
Peter
P
de Haan
Ivo
I
Vanicky
Dink
D
Legemate
Misa
M
Dzoljic
D000818:Animals; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000601:surgery*; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000601:surgery*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007511:Ischemia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011817:Rabbits; D020760:Spinal Cord Ischemia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014781:Viscera / Q000098:blood supply*
D009599:Nitroprusside