Arteriovenous fistula following lumbar disc surgery.

Injury to the aorta, vena cava and iliac vessels is a recognized hazard of lumbar disc surgery (1-4). Haemorrhage may be manifest at the time, or postoperatively false aneurysm or arteriovenous fistula occurs. Four cases of arteriovenous fistula, 2 with associated false aneurysm, are described. Presentation varied between immediately postoperatively and 8 years later. In none of these injury suspected at the time of surgery.