Severe edema of the eyes and lips as rare side effects of eye ointment for protection of eyes under general anesthesia -A case report-

Patients undergoing non-ocular surgery under general anesthesia may suffer from ocular complications because of the loss of protective reflexes. Simple taping of the eyelids closed, the instillation of ointments into the conjunctival sac, and the use of protective goggles have been recommended for eye protection. We observed a case of a 6-year-old child undergoing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy who experienced severe edema after application of an ointment (Terramycin ophthalmic ointment) to the orbits and upper lip. After several days of steroid and antihistamine administration, the edema of the orbits and lip returned to normal. Therefore, we suggest that unexpected edema in the orbits and lip following surgery can be due to hypersensitivity to the ointment.