title: Incidence of vascular complications during lateral lumbar interbody fusion: an examination of the mini-open access technique.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article examines the incidence and management of vascular injury during Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion (LLIF). The details of the mini-open access technique are presented.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 900 patients who underwent a LLIF at an average 1.94 levels (range: 1-5 levels) by one of six fellowship trained surgeons on 1,754 levels from 2006 to 2013 were identified. The incidence of intraoperative vascular injury was retrospectively determined from the Operative Records. The management of vascular injury was evaluated. The mini-open access adapted by our institution for LLIF is described.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of major vascular complication in our series was 1/900. The incidence of minor vascular injury was 4/900. The overall incidence of vascular injury was calculated to be 0.056 % per case and 0.029 % per level. All minor vascular injuries were identified to be segmental vessel lacerations, which were readily ligated under direct visualization without further extension of the incision with no clinical sequelae. The laceration of the abdominal aorta, the major vascular complication of this series, was emergently repaired through an exploratory laparotomy. None of the patients suffered long-term sequelae from their intraoperative vascular injuries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The mini-open lateral access technique for LLIF provides for minimal risk of vascular injury to the lumbar spine. In the rare event of minor vascular injury, the mini-open access approach allows for immediate visualization, confirmation and repair of the vessel with no long-term sequelae.
authors: Spine and Scoliosis Service, Hospital for Special Surgery, 535 East 70th Street, New York, NY, 10021, USA, kueperj@hss.edu.
authors: Janina
authors: J
authors: Kueper
authors: Gary A
authors: GA
authors: Fantini
authors: Brendon R
authors: BR
authors: Walker
authors: Alexander
authors: A
authors: Aichmair
authors: Alexander P
authors: AP
authors: Hughes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D057772:Vascular System Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*