SUDDEN UNEXPECTED SNEEZING DURING THE INSERTION OF PERIBULBAR BLOCK UNDER PROPOFOL SEDATION

The author presents a case report where, following propofol sedation f or a peribulbar block, sneezing was induced once the local anaesthetic needle was placed in the orbital cavity. The physiology of sneezing i s discussed as well as the pathophysiology of the ACHOO (Autosomal Dom inant Compelling Helio-Ophthalmic Outburst) syndrome, an autosomal dom inant condition, present in approximately 25% of the population, where sneezing is provoked upon exposure to bright light. It is suggested t hat the anaesthesia induced by propofol may have sensitized patients w ith this condition to sneeze, since there appeared to be no other exci tatory sequelae which have previously been described with propofol.