POSTERIOR ISCHEMIC OPTIC NEUROPATHY FOLLOWING BILATERAL RADICAL NECK DISSECTION

A patient is presented with posterior ischemic optic neuropathy (PION) after bilateral radical neck dissection, probably caused by hemodynam ic hypotension, combined with other factors. A postmortem histologic s tudy of the optic nerve was performed to analyze the pathogenic mechan ism of blindness. To prevent this complication, one should favor a two -stage procedure, avoiding drug-induced hypotension, overtransfusion, and anemia. During the postoperative period, visual acuity should be m onitored regularly, and proper positioning of the patient's head is ne cessary.