J Rhinol.  2004 Nov;11(1, 2):75-82.

5 Cases of Major Complications after Rhinologic Surgery: Avoidable and Unavoidable Cases

• Jin HR
• Lee HS
• Shin SO
• Choi YS
• Lee DW

Abstract

Otolaryngologists are sometimes confronted with various complications. They may be minor or sometimes they can be major, and rarely fatal. Some complications can be prevented, but some are unavoidable. Five cases of major complications, which occurred during or after routine rhinologic surgery, are presented. Two patients died of toxic shock syndrome: one patient after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) and the other patient after closed nasal bone reduction. One patient died of acute myocardial infarction during the recovery of anesthesia after uneventful ESS. One patient had a lidocaine shock, which required treatment in the intensive care unit. One patient had a transient unilateral blindness after intranasal steroid injection. Though the 3rd and 4th cases of complications were unavoidable, the others could have been prevented if precautions had taken place. The presumed pathophysiology, possible prevention measures, and their implications in routine otolaryngologic surgery are discussed.

Keyword

Toxic shock syndrome; Anesthesia; Lidocaine; Blindness; Steroid

MeSH Terms

Anesthesia
Blindness
Humans
Intensive Care Units
Lidocaine
Myocardial Infarction
Nasal Bone
Shock
Shock, Septic
Lidocaine