Cerebrospinal fluid drainage and blood pressure elevation to treat acute spinal cord infarct

BACKGROUND: Current management of acute spinal cord infarction (SCI) is limited. Lumbar cerebrospinal fluid drainage (CSFD) with blood pressure augmentation is utilized in the thoracic/thoracoabdominal aortic repair and thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) populations to increase spinal perfusion pressure. CASE DESCRIPTION: We identified 3 patients who sustained acute SCI and underwent CSFD and maintenance of elevated mean arterial pressure (MAP) within 24 hours of injury. The first patient exhibited delayed-onset ischemia after a TEVAR. The second patient presented with an acute type B aortic intramural hematoma. The third patient developed spinal cord ischemia following bronchial artery embolization. There was significant improvement in the motor examination (e.g., ASIA impairment scale grade B or C) to grade D utilizing both blood pressure augmentation and CSFD. CONCLUSIONS: Lumbar CSFD with MAP elevation benefited 3 patients with acute SCI of varying etiologies.