Connect
MJA
MJA

A heart-stopping orbital injury

Vivek B Pandya, R Max Conway and Richard Conway
Med J Aust 2008; 189 (7): . || doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2008.tb02095.x
Published online: 6 October 2008

To the Editor: The oculocardiac reflex is a potentially life-threatening phenomenon requiring prompt recognition and management. It is defined as a 20% or greater reduction in heart rate and/or the presence of arrhythmias during stimulation of the orbital contents.1 It is most commonly encountered in the context of paediatric squint surgery.


  • 1 Sydney Eye Hospital, Sydney, NSW.
  • 2 Westmead Hospital, Sydney, NSW.


Correspondence: vivekpandya@hotmail.com

Acknowledgements: 

Acknowledgement: We thank Mr Douglas Nash for his assistance in image preparation.

  • 1. Ziccardi VB, Russavage J, Sotereanos GC, Patterson GT. Oculocardiac reflex: pathophysiology and case report. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 1991; 71: 137-138.
  • 2. Aschner B. Über einen bisher noch nicht beschriebenen Reflex, vom Auge auf Kreislauf und Atmung. Verschwinden des Radialispulses bei Druck auf das Auge [Concerning a hitherto not yet described reflex from the eye on circulation and respiration. Disappearance of the radial pulse with pressure on the eye] [German]. Wien Klin Wochenschr 1908; 21: 1529-1590.
  • 3. Sires BS, Stanley RB, Levine LM. Oculocardiac reflex caused by orbital floor trapdoor fracture: an indication for urgent surgical repair. Arch Ophthalmol 1998; 116: 955-956.
  • 4. Burnstine MA. Clinical recommendations for repair of orbital facial fractures. Curr Opin Ophthalmol 2003; 14: 236-240.
  • 5. Sires BS. Orbital trapdoor fracture and the oculocardiac reflex [letter]. Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg 1999; 15: 301.

Author

remove_circle_outline Delete Author
add_circle_outline Add Author

Comment
Do you have any competing interests to declare? *

I/we agree to assign copyright to the Medical Journal of Australia and agree to the Conditions of publication *
I/we agree to the Terms of use of the Medical Journal of Australia *
Email me when people comment on this article

Online responses are no longer available. Please refer to our instructions for authors page for more information.