Endovascular repair of aorto-iliac artery injuries after lumbar-spine surgery.

Objective: This study aims to describe the endovascular management of abdominal-aortic- or common-iliac-artery injuries after lumbar-spine surgery.

Methods: Patients treated for abdominal-aortic- or common-iliac-artery injuries after lumbar-spine surgery during a 13-year period were identified from an endovascular database, providing prospective information on techniques and outcome. The corresponding patient records and radiographic reports were analysed retrospectively.

Results: Seven patients were treated with acute (n = 3) or subacute (n = 4) injuries of the common iliac artery (n = 6) or abdominal aorta (n = 1) after lumbar-spine surgery. Vascular injuries included arterial lacerations (n = 3), arteriovenous fistulas (n = 2) and pseudo-aneurysms (n = 2). The mean age of the patients was 51.7 years (30-60 years), 71.4% were women. These lesions were repaired by transluminal placement of stent grafts: Passager (n = 3), Viabahn (n = 1), Wallgraft (n = 1), Zénith (n = 1) and Advanta V12 (n = 1). Exclusion of the injury was achieved in all cases. Mortality was nil. There were no procedure-related complications. During a median follow-up of 8.7 years (range 0.3-13 years), all stent grafts remained patent.

Conclusions: Sealing of common iliac artery or abdominal aortic lesions as a complication of lumbar-disc surgery with a stent graft is effective and is suggested as an excellent alternative to open surgery for iatrogenic great-vessel injuries, particularly in critical conditions.