PP 119. Bilateral Abducens Nerve Paresis as a Complication of Spinal Anesthesia

---

E. Duran, H. Cansiz, M. Oztas, M. Tanriseven

17:54 - 18:00h at Margrit Room

Categories: Anaesthesiology and Resuscitation, Poster Session

Session: Poster II (P3) - Emergency / Thoracic Surgery

---

Background
Paralysis of abducens nerve is a rare complication of spinal anesthesia. Isolated sixth cranial nerve is affected because of its long intracranial course.

Material and Methods
We report a rare case of bilateral abducens nerve paresis after spinal anesthesia which resolved completely three weeks later.

Result
A 27 year- old- man underwent surgery for pilonidal sinus while he was spinal anesthesia. Patient suffered headache and bilateral diplopia on the forth postoperative day. Examination revealed bilateral eye lateral movement disability. The remainder of neurogical examination was unremarkable. Under conservative treatment diplopia was resolved at three weeks post-op. Postdural
puncture headache and abducens nerve palsy are caused by the effect of downvard sagging of brain after cerebrospinal fluid leakage. Headache occurs 12-24 hours of puncture and abducens palsy occurs 4-14 days after lumbar puncture and resolves after 4 weeks to 6 months. Our patient developed abducens palsy on the forth postoperative day and resolved completely after three weeks.

Conclusion
Although abducens nerve palsy is an extremeley rare complication, it is kept in mind after spinal anesthesia.