Aortic Abdominal Pseudoaneurysm as a Fatal Complication of Lumbar Disc Surgery

Belfquih H, Alaoui M and Akhaddar A

Published on: 2023-05-31

Abstract

A 48-year-old woman was diagnosed as lumbar disc hernia at L3–L4 level and had lumbar disc surgery. 12 hours postoperatively, the patient complained of diffuse abdominal pain. A subsequent computed tomographical angiography revealed a pseudo aneurysm formation in the abdominal aorta arising closely from the aortic bifurcation level. The level of vascular injury correlates with the level of lumbar disc hernia operation Figure 1 (Panel A, B and C). A retroperitoneal approach was performed immediately with repair of the defect in the aorta Figure 2. Interestingly, in spite of abdominal aortic injury this particular patient was hemodynamically stable. The patient’s postoperative course was uneventful and was discharged on the 10th postoperative day.