Surdity in the OR: An Unusual Case of Brainstem Anesthesia

Brainstem anesthesia is a potentially life-threatening complication of regional ophthalmic anesthesia. This case report chronicles an unusual presentation of brainstem anesthesia following an eye block. The unique features of this case were the presenting symptoms of deafness and slurred speech in t...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Howard D. Palte, Don P. Hoa, Aldo Pavon Canseco
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2017-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Anesthesiology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/4645381
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Summary:Brainstem anesthesia is a potentially life-threatening complication of regional ophthalmic anesthesia. This case report chronicles an unusual presentation of brainstem anesthesia following an eye block. The unique features of this case were the presenting symptoms of deafness and slurred speech in the absence of loss of consciousness, respiratory depression, or contralateral ophthalmoplegia. This report underscores two key points: first, the importance of ongoing patient monitoring after performance of an eye block; second, the exigency of supportive therapy in suspected cases of brainstem anesthesia.
ISSN:2090-6382
2090-6390