title: Abducens nerve palsy after schwannoma resection.
abstract: Tumors of the posterior mediastinum are mostly neurogenic and could involve the intervertebral foramen and the medullary canal. We describe the case of a patient who underwent surgery for a nerve sheet tumor originating at the level of the right second neural root. Resection was associated with an incidental dural tear and cerebrospinal fluid leak that was promptly repaired. One week after surgery, horizontal diplopia occurred. A palsy of the left abducens nerve secondary to intracranial hypotension was diagnosed. We present the pathogenic cascade leading to this ocular complication after posterior mediastinal surgery. The surgical techniques to prevent this complication are discussed.
authors: Unité de Chirurgie Thoracique, Hôpital Cochin, AP-HP, Paris, France. Electronic address: bobbioantonio@gmail.com.
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Bobbio
authors: Unité de Chirurgie Thoracique, Hôpital Cochin, AP-HP, Paris, France.
authors: Emelyne
authors: E
authors: Hamelin-Canny
authors: Service de Pneumologie, Hôpital Cochin, AP-HP, Paris, France.
authors: Nicolas
authors: N
authors: Roche
authors: Service de Neurologie, Hôpital d'Instruction des Armées Val-de-Grace, Paris, France.
authors: Herve
authors: H
authors: Taillia
authors: Unité de Chirurgie Thoracique, Hôpital Cochin, AP-HP, Paris, France.
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Alifano
mesh_terms: D020434:Abducens Nerve Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*