Spinal cord ischemia caused by cardiac arrest secondary to pericardial effusion.

T A E HE REPORTED RATES of pericardial effusion after cardiac surgery are as high as 64%.1 However, it is rare for his to lead to life-threatening conditions such as cardiac arrest. t is very difficult to maintain cardiac output during cardiopulonary resuscitation (CPR) in the setting of pericardial effuion. In such cases, declining perfusion pressure primarily esults in neurologic complications, specifically anoxic brain amage, cerebrovascular accident, and/or seizures. It is uncomon to see paraplegia alone (ie, without accompanying cerebral omplications) after CPR.2 However, other predisposing facors such as diabetes, hypertension, and atherosclerotic disease f the lower extremities may contribute to an increased incience of spinal cord ischemic injury in this setting. The authors resent a rare case in which acute paraplegia developed after rolonged cardiac arrest secondary to pericardial effusion.