Authors : Malarvizhi Raman, Yogeswari Alagappan, Niranjan Karthik Senthil Kumar
DOI : 10.18231/j.ijooo.2022.042
Volume : 8
Issue : 3
Year : 2022
Page No : 185-189
Mucormycosis is an uncommon, opportunistic fungal infection. The most crucial decision in the management of rhino-orbital mucormycosis is when to advise exenteration. This study aims at understanding the pattern of cases which progressed and had extensive involvement of the entire orbital cavity with mild intra cranial extension requiring exenteration as life salvage measure in the setting of epidemic of mucormycosis in a pandemic of COVID – 19. Patients suspected or diagnosed with invasive orbital mucormycosis visiting our hospital were admitted and included in the study. CT PNS with orbit were done for all patients and MRI brain with orbit were done in patients in whom intracranial spread and involvement of optic nerve were present. Patients were started on liposomal intravenous amphotericin B (5mg/kg/day) and intraorbital amphotericin B injection when indicated and closely monitored for clinical progression. All patients were taken up for FESS and if positive for mucormycosis on histopathological examination. In cases wherever exenteration was indicated, after confirming that there was no perception of light and obtaining informed consent with psychiatric counselling patient was taken up for orbital exenteration. Lid sparing exenteration was the method of choice. A total of 41 patients out of 696(5.89%) underwent exenteration out of which 21(51.2%) were right sided and 20(48.8%) were left sided. 12 patients (29.2%) of those who had undergone exenteration did not have a history of being tested positive/ been symptomatic for COVID 19. 1 patient (2.4%) was not diabetic. All patients (100%) had sinonasal involvement (Involvement of one or more paranasal sinuses) with involvement of orbital cavity to different degrees. 4 out of 41(9.75%) patients had deteriorated and required ICU care. 1 patient succumbed to death (2.4%) due to multiple comorbidities. On histopathological examination of exenteration specimen, 2(4.87%) patients turned out to be negative for mucormycosis. In 32(78.04%) of them the socket healed well while 5(12.1%) had slough who required 2 or more sittings of sloughectomy. As mucor is angio invasive rapidly progressive highly fatal infection close monitoring for invasion into structures like apex of orbit and intra cranial spread is essential for timely intervention and decision to perform exenteration. This is crucial for arrest of progress and life salvage.
Keywords: Mucormycosis, Exenteration, ROCM, COVID19