Case Report of Blindness After Intranasal Ethmoidectomy

ABSTRACT

Surgical extirpation and drainage of the paranasal sinus is frequently used by the otolaryngologist in the management of allergic, infectious, and neoplastic sinus diseases. Several surgical approaches to the ethmoid and maxillary sinuses, including ethmoidectomy and Caldwell-Luc's operation, may be used. In the intranasal approach to ethmoidectomy, the lamina papyracea, the thin partition separating the periorbita from the ethmoid sinus. cannot be directly visualized during this procedure and may be perforated inadvertently. Endoscopic nasal sinus surgery has only recently been introduced into Korea. This rather novel technique, especially when used by less-experienced surgens, has major complications similar to what has been reported with the traditional intranasal sphenoethmoidectomy. Even then, major complications may occur in the hands of very experienced surgeons. The ophthalmolgist may be consulted in the management of patients with orbital complications of sinus surgery. We present one patient with ophthalmic complications of sinus surgery encountered by the authors. The purpose of this report is to present to the ophthalmologist examples of orbital complications that may arise from sinus surgery, and treatment options.