Transient Cortical Blindness in a 15 Year Old Boy : A Case Report

Abstract

Vision loss after non-ophthalmic surgery is a rare complication. A fifteen year old boy presented with acute abdomen in low general condition with mild hypotension and moderate dehydration. He was diagnosed as a case of intussception. He was resuccitated and exploratory laparotomy was done. Per-operative period was uneventful. Next day, patient complainted of vision loss. After full clinical ophthalmological exam and investigations, the diagnosis was made of cortical blindness due to infarction of occipital lobe. Vision loss recovered later. The cortical blindness was due to hypoperfusion secondary to hypotension. This complication commonly occurs after cardiac surgery or spinal surgery where usually low blood pressure is maintained during surgery. But it can also occur even after exploratory laparotomy. In conclusion, with the reported visual loss in this patient, surgeons should consider the possibility of vision loss after surgery.