VASCULAR COMPLICATIONS OF ELECTIVE LOWER LUMBAR DISC SURGERY

Lower lumbar disc surgery is an extremely common operation from which vascular complications are reported rarely. However vascular injury ca n occur with perforation of the anterior longitudinal ligament. Extern al haemorrhage is uncommon and the true cause of the patient's hypoten sion may be misdiagnosed. If the hypotension is severe or prolonged la parotomy is indicated, to prevent exsanguination and to effect a repai r of the vascular injury. Alternatively, if the injury is missed, an a rteriovenous fistula may develop; this diagnosis may be delayed for mo nths or years. One case of severe haemorrhage following lower lumbar d isc surgery is reported and a further 69 cases of similar arterial inj ury have been reviewed from the world literature.