OCULAR SEQUELAE OF ADMINISTRATION OF GENERAL ANESTHESIA: PARALYSIS OF THE SUPERIOR RECTUS MUSCLE, EXOPHTHALMOS, PSEUDOPTOSIS AND FIBROSIS OF THE INFERIOR RECTUS M USCLE FOLLOWING AN OPERATION FOR PILONIDAL CYST WITH THE PATIENT UNDER GENERAL ANESTHESIA

A search of the literature revealed only one report of paralysis of the extraocular muscles associated with general anesthesia¹ other than spinal anesthesia. In Woltman's report 2 cases are described. However, there have been approximately 175 cases of paresis of the extraocular muscles related to the use of spinal anesthesia² and 1 case in which this condition was associated with local anesthesia administered for tonsillectomy.³

In the case to be described, paralysis of the right superior rectus muscle, pseudoptosis of the right upper eyelid, exophthalmos of the right eyeball and fibrosis of the right inferior rectus muscle were diagnosed after administration of ethylene-ether anesthesia for an operation for pilonidal cyst.

REPORT OF A CASE  F. W., a patrolman aged 36, was operated on for pilonidal cyst on Jan. 29, 1942, under ethylene-ether anesthesia. Prior to this operation the patient's eyes revealed no abnormality.Within twenty-four hours after