Canadian Anaesthetists’ Society Journal

, Volume 32, Issue 4, pp 422–424 | Cite as

Anisocoria after anaesthesia

  • Joseph A. Stirt
  • John R. Shuptrine
  • Cary S. Sternick
  • Gregg A. Korbon
Article

Abstract

Unequal pupil size following anaesthesia is an unsettling finding, suggestive of acute, perioperative intracranial pathology. We report here an unusual cause of anisocoria after anaesthesia: unintended entrance of phenyle-phrine nasal vasoconstrictor solution into the eye.

Key words

anaesthesia: paediatric complications: anisocoria sympathetic nervous system: phenylephrine, mydriasis 

Résumé

Des pupilles de diamètre inégal après l’ anesthésie restent un problème non résolu suggérant une pathologie algue intracrânienne péri-opératoire. On rapporte le cas d’ une cause inhabituelle d’nisocorie après anesthésie: l’entrée involontaire dans l’ œil d’ une solution de phénylephrine administrée pour vasoconstriction nasale.

References

  1. 1.
    Sobel AM. Anisocoria during general anesthesia. Anesth Analg 1965; 44:522–6.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  2. 2.
    Holmgreen WC, Baddour HM, Tilson HB. Unilateral mydriasis during general anesthesia. J Oral Surg 1979; 37:740–2.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  3. 3.
    Klein DS, Kosanin R. Anisocoria and ipsilateral exophthalmos during enflurane anesthesia. Anesthesiology 1982; 57:237–8.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  4. 4.
    Payne JW, Adamkiewicz J Jr. Unilateral internal ophthalmoplegia with intracranial aneurysm. Am J Opthalmol 1969; 68:349–52.Google Scholar
  5. 5.
    Hallett M, Cogan DG. Episodic unilateral mydriasis in otherwise normal patients. Arch Ophthalmol 1970; 84:130–6.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  6. 6.
    Edelon RN, Levy DE. Transient benign unilateral pupillary dilation in young adults. Arch Neurol 1974; 31:12–14.Google Scholar
  7. 7.
    Smith R, Russell RGG, Woods CG. Myositis ossificans progressiva. J Bone Jt Surg 1976; 58-B:48–57.Google Scholar
  8. 8.
    Hentzer B, Jacobsen HH, Asboe-Hansen G. Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva. Scand J Rheumatol 1977; 6:161–71.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  9. 9.
    Stafford TJ. Transient unilateral dilation of pupil associated with headache. JAMA 1972; 221:1171.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  10. 10.
    Haddad NJ, Moyer NJ, Riley FC Jr. Mydriatic effect of phenylephrine hydrochloride. Am J Ophthal 1970; 70:729–33.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  11. 11.
    Barbee RF, Smith WO Jr. A comparative study of mydriatic and cycloplegic agents in human subjects without eye disease. Am J Ophthal 1957; 44:617–22.PubMedGoogle Scholar

Copyright information

© Canadian Anesthesiologists 1985

Authors and Affiliations

  • Joseph A. Stirt
    • 1
  • John R. Shuptrine
    • 1
  • Cary S. Sternick
    • 1
  • Gregg A. Korbon
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of AnesthesiologyUniversity of Virginia Medical CenterCharlottesvilleU.S.A.

Personalised recommendations