BACKGROUND: Ophthalmic complications following inferior alveolar nerve anaesthesia are rare. They include transient blindness (amaurosis), ophthalmoplegia, ptosis, mydriasis and diplopia. These events may occur following the intravascular administration of anaesthetic solution and are distressing to both patient and operator alike. CASE REPORT: We report the unusual case of a young patient who experienced amaurosis, total ophthalmoplegia, complete upper eyelid ptosis, mydriasis and periorbital blanching following inferior alveolar nerve anaesthesia. Similar but less profound signs were observed in the same patient on a subsequent occasion. This was following general anaesthesia, during which she had received local anaesthetic prior to mandibular wisdom tooth removal. CONCLUSIONS: Ophthalmic complications following inferior alveolar nerve anaesthesia are rare but distressing events. In particular, amaurosis is an extremely rare event and usually heralds a more sinister pathology such as stroke. Clinicians should be aware of these complications to minimise anxiety and reassure their patients appropriately.
BACKGROUND: Ophthalmic complications following inferior alveolar nerve anaesthesia are rare. They include transient blindness (amaurosis), ophthalmoplegia, ptosis, mydriasis and diplopia. These events may occur following the intravascular administration of anaesthetic solution and are distressing to both patient and operator alike. CASE REPORT: We report the unusual case of a young patient who experienced amaurosis, total ophthalmoplegia, complete upper eyelid ptosis, mydriasis and periorbital blanching following inferior alveolar nerve anaesthesia. Similar but less profound signs were observed in the same patient on a subsequent occasion. This was following general anaesthesia, during which she had received local anaesthetic prior to mandibular wisdom tooth removal. CONCLUSIONS: Ophthalmic complications following inferior alveolar nerve anaesthesia are rare but distressing events. In particular, amaurosis is an extremely rare event and usually heralds a more sinister pathology such as stroke. Clinicians should be aware of these complications to minimise anxiety and reassure their patients appropriately.
Authors: Julio González-Martín-Moro; Julio José González-López; Marco Sales-Sanz; Andrea Sales-Sanz; Javier González-Martín-Moro; Fernando Gómez-Sanz; Mar González-Manrique; Belén Pilo-de-la-Fuente; Roberto García-Leal Journal: Int Ophthalmol Date: 2014-03-07 Impact factor: 2.031
Authors: Jean-Pierre T F Ho; Tom C T van Riet; Youssef Afrian; Kevin T H Chin Jen Sem; René Spijker; Jan de Lange; Jerome A Lindeboom Journal: J Dent Anesth Pain Med Date: 2021-11-26