ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo retrospectively analysis the role of intercostal artery reconstruction in spinal cord protection for patients with extent thoracoabdominal aotic aneurysm (TAAA) repair.MethodsFrom August 2003 to August 2010,extent Crawford Ⅱ TAAA repair were performed in 81 consecutive patients with mean age (39.4 ± 10.3) years and 61 (75.3％)were males.All the procedures were performed under profound hypothermia with interval cardiac arrest.Patientswere opened with a thoracoabdominal incision.Extracorporeal circulation was instituted with two arterial cannulae and a single venous cannula in the right atrium.T6 to T12 intercostal arteries and L1,2 lumbar arteries were formed to a neo-intercostal artery in place and were connected to an 8mm branch for keeping spinal cord blood perfusion.Visceral arteries were joined into a patch and anastomosed to the end of the main graft.Left renal artery was anastomosed to an 8mm branch or joined to the patch.The other 10mm branches were anastomosed to iliac arteries.ResultsWith 100％ follow-up,early mortality was 7.4％ (6/81),one patient was dead result from cerebral hemorrhage,three from renal failure,one from heart failure because of myocardial infarction and one from rupture of cliac artery dissection.Postoperative spinal cord deficits was 3.7％ (3/81),temporary paraplegia were observed in 2 patients and paraparesis occurred in 1 patient,but all of them were without bladder or rectum deficits.Neo- intercostal arteries were clogged in 12 patients within follow-up,and two of those patients with Marfan syndrome underwent pseudoaneurysm after intercostal arteries reconstruction.The mean survival time in this group is (54.22 ± 3.03 )months (95％ CI:44.37 months,59.90 months)with survival rate 92.37％ after 1 year,89.02％ after 2 years,85.54％ after 5 years.Three patient were dead with long term follow-up,one were resulted from cerebral hemorrhage at 20th month,one from rupture of ascending aorta at 23rd month and the last from rupture of aorta ulcer.ConclusionIntercostal artery reconstruction is a reliable method in spinal cord protection for patients with TAAA repair.It is a feasible method with acceptable surgical risks and satisfactory results.It can achieve long term result with less risk of spinal cord deficits and good quality of daily life.