Posterolateral thoracotomy complicating paraplegia

Abstract

Paraplegia complicating thoracotomy has been reported in literature in mid forties. However in sufficient data are available about the incidence of such a catastrophic complication. In the present study five cases of paraplegia following thoracotomy are presented. Pneumonectomy, lobectomy for bronchogenic carcinoma decortication for tubercular empyemas and thoracotomy for ductus ligation constituted one, one, two and one patient respectively. Two patients died in post operative period, two died in follow up and one patient is still on follow for the last twelve years.Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery SKIMS, Soura, Srinaga