ABSTRACT

Vascular complications after spine surgery are rare but potentially fatal. The risk is usually related to the proximity of the surgical field to the retroperitoneal structures. Rapid diagnosis and treatment is essential in the management of this complication which has high mortality and morbidity. However, it may delay the management of this condition because the bleeding is retroperitoneal and limited by abdominal compression. Many clinicians may not be aware of this potentially fatal complication. Morbidity and mortality can be reduced with rapid diagnosis and treatment. Therefore, anesthesiologists and surgeons should be highly suspicious in all patients undergoing vertebral surgery. We report a 53-year-old woman with abdominal aortic injury during L2-L3 lumbar discectomy.