Endoscopic orbital decompression under local anesthesia.

Orbital decompression for Graves' disease has traditionally been performed with the patient under general anesthesia. Endoscopic instrumentation allows for removal of the medial orbital wall and floor through an intranasal approach with local anesthetic techniques. Twelve endoscopic orbital decompressions were performed on awake patients with uncovered eyes so that vision could be monitored throughout the procedure. Simultaneous lateral decompressions were performed in 11 cases. No intraoperative or postoperative complications occurred. Visual acuity remained stable or improved in all cases. Proptosis was reduced an average of 5.5 +/- 1.6 mm. In a comparable series of 29 endoscopic decompressions performed with patients under general anesthesia, proptosis was reduced an average of 4.8 +/- 2.0 mm. Endoscopic orbital decompression with patients under local anesthesia appears to be an effective technique that may provide an additional margin of safety in prevention of injury to the optic nerve.