Case Report - Common iliac injury folllowing intervertebral discectomy

A 45 years old female developed hypotension in the postoperative ward, immediately after spinal laminectomy and discectomy (L3/L4). Rapid fluid and blood transfusion could not restore the blood pressure. The patient also developed distension of the lower abdomen. Provisional diagnosis of great vessel injury was made, and the patient was immediately taken to the operation theatre. On laparotomy, there were tears in the left common iliac artery, which were repaired using a long saphenous vein as patch graft. Postoperatively, the patient was ventilated, and dopamine drip was on flow. The patient was weaned from this on the 2nd postoperative day, all peripheral pulses were felt on the lower limb, and the patient survived well.