Centrifugal pump support for repair of thoracic aortic injury.

Spinal cord ischemia and the potential for paraplegia are always of concern during operations for repair of traumatic thoracic pseudoaneurysm. Patients who experience hypotension, loss of intercostal blood supply, or normothermic aortic cross clamp times greater than 30 minutes are more likely to become paraplegic. The preservation of renal perfusion is also a concern.