Spinal Cord Damage after Aorto-bifemoral Bypass Operation

Abstract

A 59-year-old man underwent an aorto-bifemoral bypass operation for aorto-iliac arteriosclerotic occlusive disease. The total aortic occlusion time was 38min. Soon after the operation, the patient was found to have motor and sensory loss between right L₂ and S₁, which did not improve. We considered that spinal cord damage was caused by occlusion of the lumbar artery as a result of side clamping of the atherosclerotic abdominal aorta. Therefore, side clamping of the atherosclerotic aorta should be avoided to prevent this serious complication.