Reversal of Acute Paraplegia with Cerebrospinal Fluid Drainage After Endovascular Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Repair

Abstract

ALTHOUGH data from animal studies of acute polycythemia show that this condition is associated with a decreased cardiac output and increased systemic vascular resistance (SVR) because of an increased blood viscosity, 1-3 this is not confirmed in man. In contrast to polycythemia, acute isovolemic hemodilution leads to an increase in cardiac output, a decrease in SVR, and an increase in the oxygen extraction. However, there is no report in the literature on the effects of acute isovolemic hemodilution in a polycythemic individual. We describe the treatment and the effects of acute hemodilution in a patient with chronic polycythemia undergoing surgery for an erythropoietinproducing renal tumor.