Paraplegia after valvular surgery following remote thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Abstract Neurological disorders are the most unpredictable and feared complications after open surgery or endovascular aortic repair. Paraplegia due to spinal cord injury is well known after thoracoabdominal aortic surgery, but not after valvular surgery. We herein present a case of paraplegia after mitral and tricuspid valve surgery in a patient with a history of surgery involving the thoracoabdominal and abdominal aorta. The paraplegia was likely caused by temporary postoperative hypotension as low as 40 mmHg for more than 10 minutes with decreased spinal perfusion in the intensive care unit.