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CAPT WILLIAM R. WELHAF, USAF (MC); CAPT DONALD C. JOHNSON, USAF (MC)

Arch Ophthalmol. 1965;73(1):43-45.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

Introduction

For years, physicians have known about the oculocardiac reflex. Paroxysmal auricular tachycardia could frequently be reverted to a slower, normal rhythm by ocular massage, and many physicians have used this as initial therapy. Ophthalmologists and anesthesiologists have also been interested in the reflex, because several cardiac arrests during ocular surgery have been attributed to it. During the past decade, several clinical studies have shed more light on the subject. Kirsch,^1-3 collaborating with other authors on several reports, found that the reflex is apt to occur with extraocular muscle traction, ocular pressure, intraorbital injections, and compression of apical contents after enucleation. Several factors predisposing the reflex were noted to be fear, hypoxia, hypercapnia, sensitivity to, and overdose of drugs. Although the bradycardia happens in a large percentage of cases, Kirsch believed that cardiac arrest occurred about once in approximately 3,500 eye operations. Although Kirsch¹ and Taylor⁴ believe . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

Author Affiliations
Chief of Anesthesiology (Capt Welhaf) and Chief of Ophthalmology (Capt Johnson), USAF Hospital Chanute, Chanute Air Force Base, Illinois.

Footnotes
Submitted for publication June 18, 1964.

The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Air Force or the Department of Defense.

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