Early exploration of diplopia with magnetic resonance imaging after peribulbar anaesthesia

Abstract

We report the cases of five patients who have experienced postoperative diplopia after cataract surgery under peribulbar anaesthesia and in whom orbital Magnetic Resonance Imaging was performed immediately after the diagnosis. In four patients, the imaging study showed a T2 hyper-intensity signal and swelling of one extraocular muscle that was interpreted as oedema. Therefore, these cases were most probably a result of an accidental i.m. injection of local anaesthetics. In the other patient, the imaging study revealed no abnormality. © The Board of Management and Trustees of the British Journal of Anaesthesia 2004.