The effect of "Hes-pz" solution in a model of spinal cord ischemia

Paraplegia following thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair has been attributed to ischemia and reperfusion injury. The low molecular weight plasma expander "Hes-pz" has been shown to decrease reperfusion injury in cardiac and skeletal muscle The purpose of this study is to determine if "Hes-pz" has a protective effect on the spinal cord following aortic cross clamping in the rabbit model Eighteen New Zealand white rabbits underwent operative replacement of a infrarenal aortic occlusive device tunneled into a subcutaneous position Animals were allowed to recover for 48hrs Two groups of 9 animals each underwent infrarenal aortic occlusion for 21 min by tightening the snare in the awake animal. Group 1 (control) received 6% Hespan and group 2 (treated) received 6% "Hes-pz" Both groups received an estimated 4% blood volume The solutions were administered immediately following unclamping Animals were observed for 5 days and graded (Tarlov Scale) by an independent observer. Animals were then euthanized and spinal coids harvested for histological examination with hematosylin-eosin and triphenyl tetrazolium chloride staining Complete paraplegia was seen in (78% (7/9) of group 1 rabbits vs 11% (1/9) group 2 rabbits (p< 0.05). Histological findings were consistent with less cell injury in group 2 Our results show that treatment with "Hes-pz" may reduce paraplegia following aortic clamping and reperfusion.