[High-output congestive cardiac decompensation caused by an atrio-venous fistula resulting from lumbar disk surgery].

Although uncommon, arterio-venous fistula is a serious complication of lumbar disk surgery. Unless congestive heart failure develops, it often remains undetected. The present case report refers to a 30-year-old male who was referred to our division with a diagnosis of high-output congestive heart failure. It is important that surgeons, cardiologists and radiologists be aware of this potentially fatal complication.