A rare cause of heart failure: aortocaval fistula associated with herniated lumbar disc surgery

Abstract

Although aortocaval fistula is mostly encountered as a complication of abdominal aortic aneurysms, it may also arise as a complication of lumbar disc surgery. Great arteriovenous shunts especially may lead to high-output heart failure in due time. In this paper, we aim to present a case of high-output heart failure secondary to aortocaval fistule caused by lumbar disc surgery.

Keywords

• aortocaval fistula
• heart failure
• lumbar disc surgery.