Left atrial-inferior vena cava bypass achieves retroperfusion of the porcine spinal cord: morphologic and preliminary physiologic studies.

Background: Spinal cord injury remains a devastating complication after procedures on the descending thoracic aorta. A new model for retrograde perfusion of the spinal cord during aortic cross-clamping was evaluated for its potential role in preventing spinal cord injury after thoraco-abdominal aortic surgery.

Methods: Retrograde perfusion of the spinal cord was established in juvenile pigs using partial bypass from the left atrium to the isolated inferior vena cava.