lethal intracranial injury as a complication of septorhinoplasty; a case report

Aims: nasal septoplasty is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures with several common and uncommon complications. although rare, intracranial adverse events of septorhinoplasty are life-threatening, and there are few case reports of fatal intracranial complications. patient & methods: a healthy 47-year-old woman underwent septorhinoplasty, then had a decreased level of consciousness and finally died due to subarachnoid and intraventricular hemorrhage caused by a bone fragment isolated from the fractured sphenoid sinus. findings: the complication was attributed to the surgeon’s carelessness, and he was considered liable for patient death due to medical negligence. conclusion: surgeon experience in septoplasty surgery is essential, and meticulous attention to anatomical landmarks is paramount to prevent a serious outcome that may lead to patient death and surgeon conviction.