Orbital swelling and subcutaneous emphysema following robotic hiatal hernia repair and roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery: A report of two cases

While laparoscopic surgery is very safe in experienced hands, several complications, including those due to forced gas insufflation into the peritoneal cavity, may occur. One rare sequela is subcutaneous emphysema. In many cases, the condition is clinically silent. Various risk factors for this complication have been described in the literature. Various eye injuries may complicate laparoscopic surgeries through different mechanisms. With corneal abrasion being the commonest type. Perioperative eye swelling may occur either as a localized allergic reaction to protective eye cover or ocular ointment or because of edema. Edema of the eye, head, and face regions is well described in laparoscopic surgeries where the Trendelenburg position was used. We report two cases of patients who underwent robotic-assisted laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. Both of our patients developed post-operative eye swelling. Further assessment revealed subcutaneous emphysema.