Respiratory arrest and convulsions after peribulbar anesthesia.

We present a case in which a rare and serious complication with respiratory arrest and convulsions occurred after peribulbar anesthesia for cataract surgery. To our knowledge, respiratory arrest has been described as a complication only of retrobulbar, not peribulbar, anesthesia. Anesthesiologists trained in airway maintenance and ventilatory support should be available for immediate help when a peribulbar block is performed.