niques used with varying degrees of risk. Anterior lumbar inter-
body fusion carries the most risk for damage of the great vessels
(aorta and vena cava), while a lateral lumbar interbody fusion has
less of a chance of injury. Some minimally invasive posterior
fusions carry lower risk in the outpatient setting, as they seem to
also result in faster patient recovery.
2. Manage blood loss
As we mentioned, anterior lumbar fusions carry a high risk of uncon-
trolled bleeding and hemorrhaging, as the procedure puts the surgeon
close to the great vessels. Even a small injury to these vessels results
in multiple liters of blood loss within seconds. If you are performing
these procedures, ensure that you have rapid access to a hospital in
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