OPTIC NERVE DECOMPRESSION

Course overview

OPTIC NERVE SHEATH DECOMPRESSION, MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS OPTIC NERVE SHEATH FENESTRATION (ONSF), IS A SURGICAL PROCEDURE PERFORMED TO DECOMPRESS THE OPTIC NERVES BY CREATING A WINDOW IN THE OPTIC NERVE SHEATH TO RELEASE CSF FROM THE SUBARACHNOID SPACE AROUND THE OPTIC NERVE. IT IS PERFORMED TO ALLEVIATE VISION-THREATENING PAPILLEDEMA OR SWELLING OF THE OPTIC NERVE IN THE SETTING OF ELEVATED INTRACRANIAL PRESSURE. THIS PROCEDURE IS GENERALLY DONE FOR PATIENTS WITH PSEUDOTUMOR CEREBRI, A CONDITION ASSOCIATED WITH ELEVATED INTRACRANIAL PRESSURE AND PAPILLEDEMA, OR PATIENTS WITH PROGRESSIVE VISION LOSS THAT ARE NON-RESPONSIVE OR NON-ADHERENT THERAPY. THIS ACTIVITY DESCRIBES THE INDICATIONS, CONTRAINDICATIONS, AND COMPLICATIONS OF OPTIC NERVE DECOMPRESSION AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN THE MANAGEMENT OF PATIENTS UNDERGOING THIS PROCEDURE.