[Paraplegia due to medullary ischemia after repair of coarctation of the aorta in an infant].

UNLABELLED: Paraplegia after repair of coarctation of the aorta is uncommon.

CASE REPORT: A 2-month-old boy underwent excision of the coarctation area and primary anastomosis because of persistent heart failure. Spastic paraplegia was noted some hours after surgery. Motor deficit partially improved, but bladder dysfunction appeared some months after. Medullary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an ischemia-related narrowing of the medullary diameter.

CONCLUSION

Paraplegia after repair of coarctation of the aorta, described in adults and infants, is also seen in neonates. Prevention by preoperative monitoring of somatosensory evoked potentials is effective in adults, but difficult to perform in very young children.