[Intracranial diffusion. A complication of retrobulbar anesthesia].

Retrobulbar anesthesia is considered a safe, effective local-regional technique for ocular surgery. However, local complications that can arise from needle trauma during injection, include retrobulbar hemorrhage, perforation of the ocular globe and occlusion of the artery and/or the central vein of the retina. Systemic complications, such as respiratory arrest, convulsions and cardiovascular collapse, have also been reported, and although they only occur in less than 1% of cases, they are potentially life threatening. We report two cases of intracranial diffusion after retrobulbar anesthesia and describe possible mechanisms that may contribute to its development.