title: Vascular complications of elective lower lumbar disc surgery.
abstract: Lower lumbar disc surgery is an extremely common operation from which vascular complications are reported rarely. However vascular injury can occur with perforation of the anterior longitudinal ligament. External haemorrhage is uncommon and the true cause of the patient's hypotension may be misdiagnosed. If the hypotension is severe or prolonged laparotomy is indicated, to prevent exsanguination and to effect a repair of the vascular injury. Alternatively, if the injury is missed, an arteriovenous fistula may develop; this diagnosis may be delayed for months or years. One case of severe haemorrhage following lower lumbar disc surgery is reported and a further 69 cases of similar arterial injury have been reviewed from the world literature.
authors.affiliation: Vascular Unit, Royal Adelaide Hospital, South Australia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raptis
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Quigley
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barker
mesh_terms: D001164:Arteriovenous Fistula / Q000209:etiology; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000209:etiology; D007083:Iliac Artery; D007084:Iliac Vein; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000601:surgery*; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000601:surgery*; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior