Learning from Mistakes: Pancreatic Laceration: Devastating Complication During Spine Surgery.

Abstract

Posterior decompression and fusion surgery is one of the most commonly performed surgeries for thoracolumbar tuberculosis with destruction of vertebral bodies. Tuberculosis causes gross destruction of the vertebral bodies and surrounding tissue, making them friable. We present an unusual but dreaded complication which we encountered during posterior decompression and instrumentation surgery in a 65-year-old woman with T10-11 tuberculosis of the spine. During surgical exposure, while reflecting posterior paraspinal muscles on the left side, there was an accidental slip of the Cobb elevator around the transverse process to the extent of two-thirds of its length on the left side anteriorly. The instrument was immediately withdrawn. There was no active bleeding in the field. The rest of the surgery was uneventful. In the postoperative period, however, the patient developed severe abdominal pain with abdominal distention. General surgery opinion was immediately taken and the patient was immediately investigated in the form of a computed tomography scan. It was found that there was a traumatic laceration of the pancreas. The patient underwent emergency exploratory laparotomy and repair of the pancreatic laceration. The patient required intensive monitoring and critical care unit stay and ultimately went on to recover fully over the next few weeks. This case illustrates the possibility of pancreatic injury should always be kept in mind if the patient develops acute abdominal discomfort in the postoperative period. Also, a multidisciplinary approach along with intensive care backup and vigilant postoperative monitoring is of utmost importance, especially when an unusual event has occurred during the surgery.