Miguatemala Health Blog

The orbits are bony cavities that protect the eyes and can be affected by cavernous sinus thrombosis, ie, obstruction of a vein located at the base of the brain, which can occur, among other reasons, infection without treatment.

The cavernous sinuses are cavities at the base of the skull, ie the area which supports the brain and contains several structures of the nervous and circulatory systems (neurovascular). Among these include a segment of the internal carotid artery, which carries oxygenated blood from the heart to the brain, as well as fragments of cranial nerves.

When these cavities become clogged, usually due to spread of bacteria from sinus infection (sinusitis), structures adjacent to the nose, ears, eyes or facial skin.

Complications

According to Dr. Saul Groman Share, attached to the Ophthalmology Service of La Raza National Medical Center of Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), located in the capital, cavernous sinus thrombosis is very severe disorder that causes:

Orbital cellulitis. Infection of the tissues surrounding the eyeball, whose symptoms are eyes sticking out, less eye movement and swelling. When not treated early and properly can cause blindness, brain infection and spinal cord, and blood clots in the brain.
Conjunctival chemosis. Accumulation of fluid in the conjunctiva (thin membrane covering the surface of the eyeball), which in severe cases preventing proper closure of the eyelids.
Exophthalmos. Abnormal bulging of one or both organs of vision (eyes bulging) because the tissues of the eye socket was swollen, and unusual deposits of material pushed the eyeball forward.
“It also presents significant deterioration of vision, orbital pain that increases with eyeball pressure, inability to move eyes, stiff neck, severe headache (headache), seizures (involuntary shaking) and fever, even can kill the patient because the infection can penetrate the brain and meninges (membranes that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord), “relates Dr. Groman Share.

This occurs because the eye is located behind the optic nerve, where, in turn, is a series of nerves attached to blood vessels arising from the internal carotid artery, which supply the eyes and surrounding muscles. Thus, different organisms can be achieved with relative ease brain structures.

Importantly, cavernous sinus thrombosis is very rare and are immunocompromised patients (with decreased immune system) those who get to suffer. Also, nearly 30% of those affected die, and many of the survivors, mental and neurological sequelae observed despite receiving treatment.

Thrombosis comes to generating near paralysis in the muscles, which happens when the box has appeared infectious inflammatory, it is also possible that ischemia (lack of oxygen) in the retina (the layer of light-sensitive tissue that is into the eye and acts like the film in a camera), which affects vision in a serious way.

However, it is also reported total loss of vision and the eye itself, as there are cases in which occlusion of the cavernous sinus produces not only orbital cellulitis, but endophthalmitis. “The latter means that the infection can enter the eyeball, which is very suitable site for a successful reproduction of bacteria that destroy it,” says the interviewee, who is also a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the Mexican Society Ophthalmology.

credit to: Karina Vasquez Galarza

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