Acute bowel ischemia following spinal surgery

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Vascular Surgery
• Neurosurgery

Background:

• Acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) presents with nonspecific symptoms, complicating diagnosis.
• Spinal surgery, particularly via the posterior approach, has not been previously associated with AMI.

Observation:

• A 43-year-old woman developed AMI days after posterior lumbar spondylolisthesis surgery.
• The patient's chronic presentation suggested venous intestinal ischemia.

Findings:

• The patient had an inherited hypercoagulable state.
• Prone positioning and intraoperative hypotension may have contributed to mesenteric vein occlusion.

Implications:

• This case expands the spectrum of known complications following posterior spinal surgery.
• Awareness of potential vascular complications is crucial in patients undergoing spinal procedures, especially those with hypercoagulable states.