The effect of graded postischemic spinal cord hypothermia on neurological outcome and histopathology after transient spinal ischemia in rat

The effect of graded postischemic spinal cord hypothermia on neurological outcome and histopathology after transient spinal ischemia in rat
Kakinohana, Manabu; Taira, Yutaka; Marsala, Martin
Anesthesiology, 1999

Spinal ischemia was induced by aortic occlusion lasting 10 minutes on rats. In the first study, the intrathecal temperature was decreased to 34, 30, or 27 degrees C for 2 h beginning with initial reperfusion. In the second study, hypothermia was initiated with reflow and maintained for 15 or 120 min. In the third study, the intrathecal temperature was decreased to 27 degrees C for 2 h starting 5, 60, or 120 min after normothermic reperfusion. Normothermic ischemia followed by normothermic reflow resulted in spastic paraplegia and spinal neuronal degeneration. Immediate postischemic hypothermia resulted in decreasing motor dysfunction and significant protection. Delay of onset of post-reflow hypothermia by 5 min or more failed to provide protection.