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[Sight-threatening orbital emphysema after nose blowing: case report]
Bruno de Albuquerque Furlani1, Bruno Diniz, Luis Gustavo Bitelli
1Pronto Socorro de Oftalmologia, Hospital São Paulo, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
Arquivos Brasileiros De Oftalmologia
|May 26, 2009
Summary
Orbital emphysema, or air in the eye socket, can occur without fracture. A case study shows vigorous nose blowing caused this rare condition, leading to vision loss and requiring urgent needle decompression.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- Orbital emphysema is the abnormal presence of air within the orbital cavity.
- It typically occurs secondary to orbital fractures, making spontaneous cases rare.
Observation:
- A 40-year-old female presented with unilateral orbital emphysema.
- The condition developed after a bout of vigorous nose blowing.
- She experienced sudden visual loss attributed to elevated intraocular pressure.
Findings:
- The patient underwent urgent orbital decompression via a 24-gauge needle puncture.
- The procedure was performed adjacent to the supraorbital notch.
- Post-treatment, the patient reported significant symptom reduction.
Implications:
- This case highlights a rare, non-traumatic cause of orbital emphysema.
- Needle decompression is presented as an effective, urgent treatment for vision-threatening orbital emphysema.
- Emphasizes the importance of considering orbital emphysema in cases of sudden visual disturbance after forceful exhalation.
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