Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat's eye injured by needle during dental nerve block causing
By Perry, Rachel et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2015·Grove Lodge Veterinary Hospital, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Globe penetration in a cat following maxillary nerve block for dental surgery.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
An 8.5-year-old male domestic shorthair cat developed a serious eye problem after undergoing dental surgery for tooth resorption. The day after the procedure, the cat showed signs of squinting and discomfort in the right eye, which worsened over the next few days. An eye specialist later confirmed that the cat had lost vision in that eye due to a penetrating injury likely caused by a needle during the dental work. Unfortunately, the right eye had to be removed to prevent further complications.
People also search for: cat dental surgery complications · cat eye problems after surgery · why is my cat squinting after dental work
Abstract
CLINICAL SUMMARY: Dental treatment was carried out in an 8.5-year-old castrated male domestic shorthair cat found to have tooth resorption. Right mandibular, and right and left maxillary nerve blocks were administered using a 1 ml syringe attached to a 25 G x 5/8 inch needle and an intraoral technique. The following day the cat displayed blepharospasm of the right eye. The ocular signs progressed and 5 days later an ophthalmologist confirmed a blind, glaucomatous right eye. It was suspected that the eye had suffered a penetrating injury during dental surgery. Enucleation of the right eye was performed and gross and histopathological examination revealed a penetrating wound consistent with a needle tract injury. PRACTICAL RELEVANCE: Complications arising from veterinary dental regional anaesthesia appear to be rare; however, it may be that they are under-reported. This case report highlights the risks involved and reviews the safest and most efficacious regional anaesthesia technique for the feline maxilla.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25527494/