Cortical blindness after subclavian vein catheterization.
The occurrence of air embolism with neurologic complications during the insertion of central venous catheters is well known, but the development of a cortical blindness has not been stress. The case of a woman patient is described, who, after the puncturing of the subclavian vein, developed a state of confusion and transient left hemiplegia, followed by the loss of sight. Blindness was associated with normal pupilary light reflexes and no observable changes in the fundi, features identifying it as cortical. Possible pathogenetic mechanisms are discussed.
Acalovschi
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I
Department of Anaesthesia, Clinical Hospital, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Corbaciu
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D
Paraianu
I
I
D000368:Aged; D001766:Blindness / Q000209:etiology*; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D011677:Punctures; D013350:Subclavian Vein