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CONTRALATERAL ANESTHESIA IN TWO PATIENTS AFTER RETROBULBAR BLOCK.
Quraish Ghadiali1,2, Larissa K Ghadiali3, William M Schiff2
1Vitreous Retina Macula Consultants of New York, New York, New York.
Retinal Cases & Brief Reports
|October 18, 2016
Summary
Contralateral anesthesia is a rare complication of retrobulbar block, potentially caused by anesthetic spread along the optic nerve sheath. Modifying injection techniques may reduce this risk.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Anesthesiology
Background:
- Retrobulbar block is a common anesthesia technique for ophthalmic surgery.
- Potential complications, though rare, require careful consideration.
Observation:
- Two patients experienced contralateral anesthesia after retrobulbar block.
- One patient had transient akinesia, the other transient amaurosis in the contralateral eye.
Findings:
- Contralateral anesthesia following retrobulbar block is a rare complication.
- Anesthetic spread along the optic nerve sheath is the suspected mechanism.
Implications:
- Awareness of this complication is crucial for ophthalmic surgeons.
- Adjusting injection techniques may mitigate the risk of posterior anesthetic spread.
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