Acute Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo After Endothelial Keratoplasty-A Unique Cause of Postoperative Nausea and Headache.

PURPOSE: To describe a case of new-onset benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) after uncomplicated Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty.

METHODS

Case report and review of literature.

RESULTS

A 61-year-old woman with a history of steroid-induced glaucoma and penetrating keratoplasty for Fuchs endothelial dystrophy, and no history of BPPV or other vertigo, underwent Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty for penetrating keratoplasty graft failure. On the third postoperative day, she developed acute spinning vertigo, nausea, and headache on sitting up after 3 days of strict supine positioning. Her ophthalmic examination was benign, with no evidence of a pupillary block, and she was diagnosed by an otologist with BPPV. Her symptoms resolved after 1 week without further intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

BPPV is a benign but rare complication of nonotologic surgery and has not been previously reported with ophthalmic surgery. The overlap in symptomatology between BPPV and other serious and potentially vision-threatening causes of postoperative nausea and headache, such as pupillary block glaucoma, makes this a relevant etiology to consider in the spectrum of postendothelial keratoplasty complications.