title: Ptosis and vertical diplopia after ligation of ethmoidal arteries.
abstract: The treatment of epistaxis is well codified, ligation of the ethmoidal arteries being the last resort. We report the case of a 25-year-old pregnant patient, who has had a ligation of the anterior and posterior ethmoidal arteries after a persistent epistaxis. Postoperatively, she presented a complete ptosis and an impaired eye elevation without any visual acuity disorders, evoking a lesion of the upper branch of the common oculomotor nerve (third cranial nerve). The patient totally recovered after 3 months. Anatomical study shows that the upper branch of the third cranial nerve is lying very close to the optic nerve and cannot be affected by surgery without any associated damage of the optic nerve. Thus, a vascular etiology seems to be the best explanation of the complication experienced by our patient. Ligation of the posterior ethmoidal artery should be done with caution.
authors.affiliation: Stomatology and maxillofacial surgery department, university hospital, 4, rue Larrey, 49933 Angers cedex 9, France. Electronic address: alexis.kahn@chu-angers.fr.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kahn
authors.affiliation: Head and neck surgery department, university hospital, 4, rue Larrey, 49933 Angers cedex 9, France.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Laccourreye
authors.affiliation: Department of neurosurgery, university hospital, 4, rue Larrey, 49933 Angers cedex 9, France.
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Fournier
authors.affiliation: Head and neck surgery department, university hospital, 4, rue Larrey, 49933 Angers cedex 9, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brecheteau
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries / Q000601:surgery*; D001763:Blepharoptosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D004172:Diplopia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D004844:Epistaxis / Q000601:surgery*; D005005:Ethmoid Sinus / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008026:Ligation / Q000009:adverse effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000601:surgery; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014787:Vision Tests
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones
keywords: Diplopia; Epistaxis; Ethmoidal artery; Ptosis