Oculocardiac reflex and the anesthesiologist.

Abstract

Oculocardiac reflex is one of the trigemino-vagal reflexes, and is frequently observed during anesthesia for pediatric strabismus surgery. The reflex is greatly exaggerated in the presence of hypoventilation, hypoxemia and acidosis. The reflex is important as a cause of cardiac arrest during eye surgery. Several related reflexes are known, such as blepharocardiac reflex, oculorespiratory reflex, and the sudden infant death syndrome. Although the reflex can be prevented by a retrobulbar block or the administration of parasympatholytic drugs, well conducted anesthesia and cooperation with the surgeon is much more important.