Brainstem Anaesthesia Following Intranasal Packing with Lignocaine and Adrenaline

Brainstem anaesthesia (BSA) following retrobulbar blocks in ophthalmic surgeries is a rare but well documented complication. But thus, so far, no cases of BSA following intranasal packing with lignocaine and adrenaline is reported. BSA manifests clinically as a wide range of symptoms including aphasia, apnea, bradycardia, tachycardia, cyanosis, impaired hearing, cardiac arrest, confusion, diaphoresis, dilatation of the contralateral pupil, drowsiness, dysphagia, facial paralysis, gaze palsy, hypertension, loss of consciousness, nausea and vomiting, seizures and shivering.