Oculocardiac Reflex in a Patient With Maxillofacial Trauma: A Case Study and Literature Review

TL;DR

This paper reports a case of oculocardiac reflex during maxillofacial surgery and discusses its management and implications.

Contribution

The novelty lies in presenting a real-world case and reviewing OCR's mechanisms and management in maxillofacial trauma.

Findings

OCR can manifest as bradycardia and asystole during maxillofacial surgery.

Atropine administration and surgery interruption can manage OCR symptoms effectively.

Abstract

Oculocardiac reflex (OCR), presenting as bradycardia and asystole, is a potential intraoperative complication that may occur during maxillofacial trauma surgery. Bradycardia is the most common symptom of this phenomenon. Surgeons should be aware of its long-term effects, such as arrhythmias and even cardiac arrest. We report the case of a 40-year-old male patient with a fracture of the floor of the orbit. During a surgical exploration of the orbital floor, the patient exhibited sudden symptoms of OCR. It was managed by withholding the surgery and administering atropine. The article also highlights the mechanism, types, incidence, and management of OCR in patients with maxillofacial trauma.

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