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Updated: May 20, 2026
05:20
A Murine Model of Ischemic Retinal Injury Induced by Transient Bilateral Common Carotid Artery Occlusion
Published on: November 12, 2020
Branch retinal artery occlusion after septoplasty
Theodore Leng1, Darius M Moshfeghi
1Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA.
Summary
Vision loss after septoplasty is rare. A case of branch retinal artery occlusion occurred due to anesthetic injection, highlighting potential prevention methods for this uncommon rhinosurgery complication.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Otorhinolaryngology
- Surgical Complications
Background:
- Rhinosurgery, including septoplasty, is generally safe.
- Vision loss is an exceptionally rare complication following uncomplicated rhinosurgery.
- Understanding the mechanisms of such rare events is crucial for patient safety.
Observation:
- A case study details a 40-year-old healthy male experiencing vision loss post-septoplasty.
- The complication identified was branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO).
- The probable cause was the inadvertent intra-arterial injection of local anesthetics into the nasal mucosa.
Findings:
- Local anesthetic injection into the nasal mucosa during septoplasty can lead to BRAO.
- This event underscores the risk of vascular compromise from anesthetic administration in nasal surgery.
- The specific case highlights a direct link between surgical technique and a severe visual outcome.
Implications:
- Applying topical vasoconstrictive agents before anesthetic injection may prevent vision loss.
- Slow injection techniques and aspiration prior to anesthetic delivery can mitigate the risk of intra-arterial injection.
- Enhanced awareness and procedural modifications in rhinosurgery can potentially prevent rare but devastating complications like BRAO.
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