Post-operative visual loss occurs more commonly in spinal surgery. Increased
intra-ocular pressure is often implicated in the etiology of postoperative
visual impairment. We investigated intraocular pressure in 20
patients undergoing lumber disc surgery. We classTied the patients into
two groups:
Group I: patients were in the knee-elbow position with the head resting
on a cushion and turned to one side and group 11: patients were in prone
position and the head neutral. We classified patients in knee-elbow position
into two sub-groups; subgroup A where we measured 10P in nondependant
eye and subgroup B where we measured IOP in dependant
eye.
In both groups we measured IOP during 2 times, the first time in both
group when the patients were awake and in supine position and the second
time was in group I at the end of surgery when the patients were still
anesthetized and in knee elbow position and in group 11 at the end of surgery
when the patients were still anesthetized and in prone position. In
group I after mean duration of surgery 120+18 min. (mean ± SD), the
mean intra-ocular pressure in the non-dependant eye was unchanged
when compared to awake state 16.3+2.1 vs. 17.2+3.2 mmHg (p>0.05),
whereas the intraocular pressure in the dependant eye had significantly
increased 17.1+2.2 vs. 19.2+1.1 mmHg (p 0.05). In group H after mean
duration of surgery 119+19 mmHg, mean intra-ocular pressure had highly
significant increase compared to awake state 16.7+2.2 vs. 21.3+2.1
mmHg (p 0.01). |
