title: Imaging of vascular remodeling after simulated thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A better understanding of the response of the spinal cord blood supply to segmental artery (SA) sacrifice should help minimize the risk of paraplegia after both open and endovascular repair of thoracoabdominal aortic (TAA) aneurysms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve female juvenile Yorkshire pigs were randomized into 3 groups and perfused with a barium-latex solution. Pigs in group 1 (control) had infusion without previous intervention. Pigs in group 2 were infused 48 hours after ligation of all SAs (T4-L5) and those in group 3 at 120 hours after ligation. Postmortem computed tomographic scanning of the entire pig enabled overall comparisons and measurement of vessel diameters in the spinal cord circulation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We ligated 14.5 ± 0.8 SAs: all filled retrograde to the ligature. Paraplegia occurred in 38% of operated pigs. A significant increase in the mean diameter of the anterior spinal artery (ASA) was evident after SA sacrifice (P < .0001 for 48 hours and 120 hours). The internal thoracic and intercostal arteries also increased in diameter. Quantitative assessment showed an increase in vessel density 48 hours after ligation of SAs, reflected by an obvious increase in small collateral vessels seen on 3-dimensional reconstructions of computed tomographic scans at 120 hours.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Remodeling of the spinal cord blood supply--including dilatation of the ASA and proliferation of small collateral vessels--is evident at 48 and 120 hours after extensive SA sacrifice. It is likely that exploitation of this process will prove valuable in the quest to eliminate paraplegia after TAA aneurysm repair.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY 10029, USA. sarahgeisbuesch@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Geisbüsch
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schray
authors.forename: Moritz S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Bischoff
authors.forename: Hung-Mo
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Randall B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Griepp
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Luozzo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000601:surgery*; D001158:Arteries / Q000601:surgery; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D003097:Collateral Circulation; D003287:Contrast Media; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007840:Latex; D008026:Ligation; D008323:Mammary Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016628:Replica Techniques; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000098:blood supply*; D020760:Spinal Cord Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013552:Swine; D013997:Time Factors; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D007840:Latex; D001466:Barium Sulfate