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Orbital apex syndrome due to sinus infection
Author(s) -
Kronschnabel Edward F.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1288/00005537-197403000-00001
Subject(s) - medicine , complication , antibiotics , cavernous sinus , orbit (dynamics) , sinus (botany) , surgery , disease , intensive care medicine , dermatology , biology , botany , engineering , microbiology and biotechnology , genus , aerospace engineering
Abstract Orbital extension of acute paranasal sinus infection seems to be an occurrence of increasing frequency and increasing severity in the past few years. This recurrence of an old phenomenon is happening despite medical specialization, due to alteration of bacteria biology due to generation‐long use of antibiotics. Alteration of host responses due to use of steroids is also responsible. Over‐reliance on diagnostic aids alters clinical judgment. Especially important is the fact that, in the most serious complication, cavernous sinus thrombophlebitis, one can be misled by fundoscopic examination, inasmuch as the state of the disk is not a reliable index. Six case records are used to illustrate various degrees of orbital content involvement, including blindness and meningitis complications. Early diagnosis of the spread of infection, vigorous antibiotic therapy, and surgical drainage when necessary are required. Steroid use is apparently ineffective and possibly erroneous, and anticoagulant‐anti‐inflammatory agents of an older era are probably more reliable when life and sight are threatened.