Rupture of aorta and inferior vena cava during lumbar disc surgery.

Major vascular injury during lumbar disc surgery has been recognized as an unusual but well described complication. A potentially fatal outcome can be avoided by a high index of suspicion and an early diagnosis. We present a rare case of aortic and inferior vena caval injury in a 50-year-old female patient undergoing intervertebral disc surgery at lumbar one and two levels. A quick diagnosis and prompt management resulted in a favourable outcome for the patient.