Brainstem anaesthesia after peribulbar anaesthesia.
OBJECTIVE
To present a case of brainstem anaesthesia as a complication of peribulbar anaesthesia.


METHODS
A 75-yr-old woman received peribulbar anaesthesia for cataract surgery. A few seconds after the block performed, she had a respiratory arrest, became unconscious, and developed hypertension and tachycardia followed by hypotension and bradycardia. Ventilatory and haemodynamic support were performed before the patient regained adequate spontaneous breathing, and normal heart rate and blood pressure.


CONCLUSIONS
Peribulbar anaesthesia generally carries a low risk of serious complications. However, respiratory arrest and brainstem anaesthesia may occur as complications of peribulbar blocks.
Gomez
R S
RS
Departamento de Cirurgia, Faculdade de Medicina UFMG, Hospital das Clínicas UFMG, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil.
Andrade
L O
LO
Costa
J R
JR
D000368:Aged; D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001933:Brain Stem; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology