Heparin and Low Molecular Weight Dextran in Thoracic Aorta Occlusion

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Abstract
Spinal cord damage secondary to clamping of the thoracic aorta may occur after surgical treatment for coarctation of the aorta or thoracic aortic aneurysm. Although the actual incidence of paralysis is not high, the problem does exist and is a serious complication in this field of surgery. The first mention of the neurological problem associated with aortic occlusion was in 1667 when Stenonius2and Swammerdam3reported paralysis of a rabbit's hindquarter after occlusion of the abdominal aorta. It is now believed that lower abdominal aortic surgery is not accompanied by the incidence of neurologic complications as are the more proximal aortic procedures; however, occasional reports continue to appear.4,5The time, extent, and site of occlusion are all important factors. In Adams'6excellent review of this subject, he determined that the minimum safe time of occlusion of spinal cord circulation was under 18 minutes. Eiseman1in

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