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Eye Injury

Journal Articles

  1. Gild WM, Posner KL, Caplan RA, Cheney FW: Eye injuries associated with anesthesia. Anesthesiology 76:204-208, 1992. [Abstract, NLM PubMed Link]. Order this article from: ASA Closed Claims Project
    1. A closed claims analysis of 73 claims for eye injury (4% of the data base). Two subgroups were identified: (1) corneal abrasion as the commonness single injury, characterized by uncertain mechanism and low severity of injury; (2) patient movement during eye surgery as the commonness identified mechanism of injury, characterized by uniformly poor outcome (blindness), standard of care determinations and payment data. Identification of these two distinct subgroups emphasizes the need for development of clinical strategies designed to ensure patient immobility during ophthalmic surgery, as well as research into the mechanism of corneal abrasion during anesthesia.
  2. Lee LA, Posner KL, Cheney FW, Caplan RA, Domino KB: Complications associated with eye blocks and peripheral nerve blocks: an American Society of Anesthesiologists closed claims analysis. Reg Anesth Pain Med 2008 Sep-Oct;33(5):416-22. [NLM PubMed Link]. See also: Anesthesia - Regional / MAC. Order this article from: Journal Website
    1. Anesthesiologists who provided both the eye block and sedation for eye surgery (n = 59) had more injuries associated with block placement, a higher proportion of claims with permanent injury, and a higher proportion of claims with plaintiff payment, compared with anesthesiologists who provided sedation only (n = 38). Peripheral nerve blocks (n = 159) were primarily associated with temporary injuries (56%). Local anesthetic toxicity was associated with 7 of 19 claims with death or brain damage. Performance of eye blocks by anesthesiologists significantly alters their liability profile, primarily related to permanent eye damage from block needle trauma. Though most peripheral nerve block claims are associated with temporary injuries, local anesthetic toxicity is a major cause of death or brain damage in these claims

Newsletter Articles

  1. Lee, LA: Postoperative visual loss data gathered and analyzed. ASA Newsletter 64(9): 25-27, 2000.[Full Text; PDF Version]
  2. Lee, LA: ASA Postoperative Visual Loss Registry: Preliminary Analysis of Factors Associated With Spine Operations ASA Newsletter 67(6): 7-8, 2003. [Full Text; PDF Version]