Traumatic intramuscular orbital haemorrhage.
Retrobulbar haemorrhage is an uncommon but well-documented complication of retrobulbar anaesthetic blocks in ocular surgery. Peribulbar anaesthesia has been advocated to be equally effective but safer. The incidence of retrobulbar haemorrhage with peribulbar blocks is very low. We report a case in which a peribulbar anaesthetic for cataract surgery resulted in sight-threatening retrobulbar haemorrhage within the medial rectus muscle and required an anterior orbitotomy and direct decompression of the muscle. The surgery was successful. This case illustrates a potentially serious complication of peribulbar anaesthesia, with the successful outcome achieved by rapid definitive diagnosis and intervention.
Gock
G
G
Sydney Eye Hospital, New South Wales, Australia.
Francis
I C
IC
Mulligan
S
S
D000368:Aged; D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D005094:Exophthalmos / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D009801:Oculomotor Muscles / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D019315:Retrobulbar Hemorrhage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014792:Visual Acuity