Transient visual loss (cortical blindness) in the postoperative period is an uncommon complication and has an incidence varying between 0.05 and 0.1%. 1 Although the exact cause is still speculative, the most likely underlying mechanisms are advanced age, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, smoking, cerebral hypoxia, and procedure duration. 2 This complication is generally associated with cardiac and spine surgeries. 3 Here, we report a patient with diabetes mellitus and bilateral transient visual loss after lung resection. To our knowledge, this case is the first of its kind in the literature.
Case ReportA 65-year-old man was admitted to our clinic with a mass that was suspected to be lung cancer; it was an undefined mass. At admission, his blood pressure was 120/80 mm Hg. The patient had had type 2 diabetes for 12 years, treated intramuscularly with insulin and orally with metformin for 5 years. The patient's medical history showed occasional hypoglycemic attacks and autonomic symptoms. Holding metabolic activity was seen at the right upper lung lobe under positron tomography. Sodium, potassium, phosphorus, blood urine nitrogen, creatine, plasma triglyceride, low-density protein, and high-density lipoprotein were within normal limits. His blood glucose level was 112 mg/dL. A right upper lobectomy was performed for diagnostic purposes. There were no complications perioperatively. Pathology included an abscess and inflammatory process in the mass.Cortical blindness developed 12 hours postoperatively. The patient's blood glucose level was 92 mg/dL, and blood gas analysis showed a PO 2 of 82 mm Hg. Cardiac enzymes and electrocardiography were normal. Additionally, the diffusionweighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) was normal (►Fig. 1). The patient's neurologic examination was also normal.
Keywords► vision loss ► cortical blindness ► lung resection ► diabetes mellitus ► cerebral hypoxia Abstract Transient vision loss after major surgical procedures is a rare clinical complication. The most common etiologies are cardiac, spinal, head, and neck surgeries. There has been no report on vision loss after lung resection. A 65-year-old man was admitted to our clinic with lung cancer. Resection was performed using right upper lobectomy with no complications. Cortical blindness developed 12 hours later in the postoperative period. Results from magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion-weighted investigations were normal. The neurologic examination was normal. The blood glucose level was 92 mg/dL and blood gas analysis showed a PO 2 of 82 mm Hg. After 24 hours, the patient began to see and could count fingers, and his vision was fully restored within 72 hours after this point. Autonomic dysfunction due to impaired microvascular structures in diabetes mellitus may induce posterior circulation dysfunction, even when the hemodynamic state is normal in the perioperative period. The physician must keep in mind that vision loss may occur after lung resection due to autonomic dysfunction, especially in older patients with diabetes m...