title: The role of the vascular surgeon in anterior lumbar spine surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Advances in spinal fusion techniques have led to an increase in the need for safe access to the lumbar spine anteriorly. The aim of this study is to examine the procedure-related complications of anterior lumbar inter-body fusion (ALIF) or anterior lumbar disc replacement (ALDR) when performed jointly by a vascular-surgeon and a neurosurgeon in a single centre.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted for all patients who underwent ALIF or ALDR between 2004 and 2010. Operative notes were examined to identify any procedure-specific complications. In-hospital postoperative complications were recorded. Outpatients' records were reviewed to record any late-onset postoperative complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 121 patients (68 female and 53 males) were included. Mean age was 44 years (range of 25-76). Eighty patients (66%) had ALIF while 24 patients (20%) underwent ALDR. The remaining 17 patients (14%) had combined procedure for multilevel disease. In all patients, a transperitoneal approach was performed by vascular surgeon. The main indication (88%) for performing surgery was degenerative lumbar disc disease. No visceral or 'major vascular' complications were reported in any patients. Only three patients had 'minor vascular' injuries. The only significant postoperative complication was self-limiting paralytic ileus affecting 18 patients (14.8%). Hospital stay ranged from 4 to 9 days (median of 5 days).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The anterior lumbar approach is not generally favoured by many neurosurgeons, despite its many advantages, due to the significant risk of vascular injuries as reported in the literature. This risk is especially acknowledged by the emerging generation of neurosurgeons with very little general surgical exposure during the training years. Adopting a combined vascular and neurosurgical approach has been reported to reduce the risk of vascular injury in anterior lumbar surgery acceptably low. This team approach provides an excellent opportunity to preserve some key 'general' surgical skills for neurosurgeons and ensure safe outcome for the patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Coventry and Warwickshire, Walsgrave Hospital, Coventry, UK. mohammedjamil80@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Mohammed Jamil
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Asha
authors.forename: Munchi S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Choksey
authors.forename: Amjad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shad
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Imray
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001416:Back Pain / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000601:surgery*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D009493:Neurosurgery; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010819:Physician's Role; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D013168:Spondylolisthesis / Q000601:surgery; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures