Intracranial complications of submucous resection of the nasal septum.

Submucous resection of the nasal septum (SMR) is a relatively simple and frequently performed operation. Yet, its intracranial complications, although rare, can be very serious and include anosmia, visual disturbances, cavernous sinus thrombosis, meningitis, cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea, pneumocephalus, subarachnoid hemorrhage, subdural empyema, and brain abscess. This article reviews intracranial complications of SMR, and the pathogenesis and prevention of such complications are discussed.