[Postoperative blindness after buccal tumorectomy and bilateral radical neck dissection]

A case of bilateral blindness in a 47-year-old patient after buccal tumorectomy and bilateral neck dissection is reported. The diagnosis of posterior optic ischaemia was substantiated by the features of blindness and the negativity of cerebral CT-scanography and NMR imaging. The respective roles of atherosclerosis, arterial hypotension, acute anaemia and increased intracranial pressure are discussed. Preventive measures include a strict control of blood pressure, blood loss and head position.