Pulmonary edema following retrobulbar block

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Anesthesiology
• Critical Care Medicine

Background:

• Keratoplasty, a surgical procedure to restore vision, requires anesthesia.
• Retrobulbar block is a common anesthesia technique for ophthalmic surgeries.

Observation:

• A patient undergoing keratoplasty developed acute pulmonary edema post-retrobulbar block.
• This complication occurred shortly after the administration of local anesthesia.

Findings:

• The case report discusses potential contributing factors to the development of pulmonary edema.
• These factors may include anesthetic agent, injection volume, patient comorbidities, and surgical stress.

Implications:

• Highlights the importance of vigilance for rare complications associated with retrobulbar blocks.
• Suggests a need for careful patient selection and monitoring during ophthalmic anesthesia.
• Emphasizes prompt recognition and management of acute pulmonary edema in this context.