[Postoperative unilateral acute glaucoma after abdominal surgery]

Abstract

An early and correct diagnosis substantially improves the post-operative prognosis of acute angle closure glaucoma (AACG). A 90 year-old woman was operated on for a right colon tumour by laparotomy, under combined anaesthesia without any adverse events. Twelve hours after the operation, the patient described recurrent periorbital pain in her right eye, with ocular hyperaemia, blurred vision, and unresponsive mydriasis. A diagnosis of AACG was made, but although conservative treatment was started YAG laser iridotomies were required to reduce the intraocular pressure. In the AACG postoperative period, as well as with an eye with several predisposed local factors including genetic predisposition, female gender, hypermetropia, increased lens thickness and small corneal diameter, can be added a pupillary block induced by adrenergic and anticholinergic drugs used in anaesthetic procedures. An acute and intensive periorbital or ocular pain, with or without visual disturbance, must aware the doctor. A differential diagnosis with other postoperative ocular diseases and cranial pain causes must be done.