Blindness: a potential complication of bilateral neck dissection

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Head and Neck Surgery
• Ophthalmology

Background:

• Simultaneous bilateral neck dissection is a surgical procedure to remove lymph nodes from both sides of the neck.
• Permanent blindness, or amaurosis, is a rare but severe complication associated with this procedure.
• Awareness of this potential complication among surgeons is limited.

Observation:

• Presents a case report detailing the occurrence of amaurosis following simultaneous bilateral neck dissection.
• Discusses the potential etiological factors contributing to vision loss after this surgery.
• Explores the pathophysiology linking neck dissection to optic nerve complications.

Findings:

• The primary finding is the identification of permanent blindness as a rare but devastating complication of simultaneous bilateral neck dissection.
• Highlights the lack of awareness regarding this specific surgical risk among otolaryngologists and head and neck surgeons.
• Proposes a novel management protocol to address and mitigate this complication.

Implications:

• Emphasizes the critical need for heightened surgeon awareness regarding the risk of amaurosis after bilateral neck dissections.
• Suggests the implementation of the proposed management protocol to improve patient outcomes and prevent vision loss.
• Underscores the importance of further research into the mechanisms and prevention strategies for surgical-induced amaurosis.