[Vascular lesions in surgery of the lumbar spine].

We present two cases of iliac artery damage arising from surgery to correct a lumbar disc hernia due to ventral perforation. The first was a pseudoaneurysm of the left iliac artery with a retroperitoneal hematoma diagnosed by ultrasound and TAC on the third day after surgery. The second was a retroperitoneal hematoma diagnosed by intraoperative ultrasound after the patient was shifted to a new position. Emergency laparotomy was performed on both patients to repair the damage. This is an unusual but serious complication, and in most cases requires intuitive diagnosis and lifesaving surgery.