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Updated: May 9, 2026
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Endoscopic Septoplasty with Limited Two-line Resection: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Septal Deviation
Published on: June 20, 2018
Unilateral visual loss after a nasal airway surgery
Clinical Medicine Insights. Case Reports
|July 12, 2013
Summary
A patient experienced vision loss after septoplasty and turbinoplasty surgery. This rare complication may be linked to the anesthetic's effects on nasal and orbital blood vessels.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Otolaryngology
- Anesthesiology
Background:
- Septoplasty and turbinoplasty are routine ear, nose, and throat procedures with typically low complication rates.
- These surgeries involve the nasal cavity and structures closely related to orbital vascular supply.
Observation:
- A 45-year-old male patient underwent combined general and local anesthesia for septoplasty and right turbinoplasty.
- Postoperatively, the patient presented with decreased visual acuity and significant inferior visual field loss in the right eye.
Findings:
- The case highlights a potential, albeit rare, complication following nasal surgery.
- A literature review suggests a possible link between local anesthetics, epinephrine, and vasospasm affecting the naso-orbital vascular system.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of considering vascular complications, even in common ENT procedures.
- Further investigation into the anesthetic-vasospasm relationship in the context of nasal and orbital anatomy is warranted.
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