Case report
English
El Gatit A 1, Abdul Razeq M 2, El Snaini F 2, Saad K 3, Zaiton A 2
1-Departments of Surgery, Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgery Unit, 2-Department of General Surgery, 3-Department of Medicine. Al Batnan Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Omar Al Mokhtar University, Tobruk, Libya
Libyan J Med AOP: 071108
Abstract
This report describes a case of cortical blindness that followed successful surgical repair of two stab wounds in the heart in a 29-year old Libyan man. The patient presented in a state of pre cardiac arrest (shock and low cardiac output status), following multiple chest stab wounds. Chest tube was immediately inserted. Surgery was urgently performed suturing the two wounds; in the root of the aorta and in the left ventricle, and haemostasis was secured. Cardiac arrest was successfully prevented. The patient recovered smoothly, but 24 hours later he declared total blindness. Ophtalmic and neurological examinations and investigations that included fundoscopy, Electroencephalograms (EEGs) and Computed Tomography Scans revealed no abnormalities, apart from absence of alpha waves in the EEGs. We diagnosed the case as cortical blindness and continued caring for the patient conservatively. Three days later, the patient regained his vision gradually and was discharged on the 7th postoperative day without any remarks.
Keywords: Cortical blindness, Cardiac Arrest, Resuscitation, cerebral anoxia
Link/DOI: http://www.ljm.org.ly/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1271