PMID: 15354918Sep 10, 2004Paper

Visual loss as a complication of nonophthalmologic surgery: a review of the literature

AANA Journal
Kimberly Rupp-Montpetit, Merri L Moody

Abstract

Decreased visual acuity and loss of visual ability are devastating anesthetic and surgical complications. The incidence is greater in patients with preexisting hypertension, diabetes, sickle cell anemia, renal failure, gastrointestinal ulcer, narrow-angle glaucoma, vascular occlusive disease, cardiac disease, arteriosclerosis, polycythemia vera, and collagen vascular disorders. Precipitating factors for ischemic optic neuropathy include prolonged hypotension, anemia, surgery, trauma, gastrointestinal bleeding, hemorrhage, shock, prone position, direct pressure on the globe, and long operative times. Prone and Trendelenburg positions can lead to visual loss related to decreased venous return from the head. Visual impairment may result from increased intracranial pressure, which contributes to undue pressure on the optic nerve. The prone position increases the risk of direct compression injury to the orbit and corneal abrasion. Astute attention to positioning is imperative, especially with the prone position. At-risk patients should receive transfusion once the calculated allowable blood loss has been surpassed. Unacceptable hemoglobin and hematocrit values should be corrected preoperatively and levels monitored during the case t...Continue Reading

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Anemia

Anemia develops when your blood lacks enough healthy red blood cells. Anemia of inflammation (AI, also called anemia of chronic disease) is a common, typically normocytic, normochromic anemia that is caused by an underlying inflammatory disease. Here is the latest research on anemia.

Blood And Marrow Transplantation

The use of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation or blood and marrow transplantation (bmt) is on the increase worldwide. BMT is used to replace damaged or destroyed bone marrow with healthy bone marrow stem cells. Here is the latest research on bone and marrow transplantation.