title: Paraplegia and paraparesis after descending thoracic aortic aneurysm repair: a risk factor analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The risk factors of paraplegia and paraparesis (P/P) after surgical repair of descending thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) are controversial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy five patients underwent surgical repair of descending TAA from 2001 through 2002. The mean age was 64.2+/-5.2 years old (range; 26-81) and 58 patients (77.3%) are male. There were 47 patients (62.7%) with nondissecting aortic aneurysm and 28 patients (37.3%) with chronic dissecting aortic aneurysm. Emergent operation was performed in 13 cases (17.3%). Retrospective analysis based on data of these 75 patients was performed to determine the risk factors of P/P.
  
  
  RESULTS
  30-days hospital mortality was 2.7%. The overall incidence of P/P was 12.0% (9/75) overall (immediate paraplegia; 4 (5.3%), delayed paraplegia; 1 (1.3%), immediate paraparesis; 3 (4.0%), delayed paraparesis; 1 (1.3%)). Logistic regression analysis revealed that predictive factors of the development of P/P were; cases in which the distal part (below Th9) of the descending thoracic aorta was included in the extent of graft replacement (P=0.020; odds ratio (OR), 7.981) and nondissecting aneurysm (P=0.029; OR, 12.109).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was an increased risk of P/P after descending TAA repair in cases in which the extent of graft replacement included below the Th9 or in cases with nondissecting aortic aneurysm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamauchi
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takano
authors.forename: Motonobu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: Goro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Matsumiya
authors.forename: Yoshiki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000601:surgery*; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020335:Paraparesis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*