Acute angle-closure glaucoma associated with surgical anesthesia
D. T. Fazio, J. B. Bateman and R. E. Christensen
We reviewed the records of all inpatients of the UCLA Medical Center from
1955 to 1980 with the discharge diagnosis of "glaucoma." Nine cases of
acute angle-closure glaucoma occurring after spinal or general anesthesia
were identified among the 913 records reviewed. Of the nine cases, two were
bilateral. Seven patients were female and two were male; the mean age was
63 years. Six of the nine surgical procedures were extraperitoneal and
abdominal or pelvic. Parenteral atropine sulfate or scopolamine
hydrobromide was administered to seven patients and ephedrine sulfate to
four; drug-induced mydriasis may have contributed to this complication.
Succinylcholine chloride, which causes contraction of the extraocular
muscles, was administered to six patients. Additionally, psychological
stress in the surgical patient may increase the risk of this disease by
causing mydriasis. Our cases are compared with previous reports.
