[Transitory blindness after transurethral resection of the prostate].
OBJECTIVE
To describe a case of transient blindness post-TURP, a complication of the foregoing procedure.


RESULTS
The patient developed transient blindness following transurethral prostatic resection, ascribable to the resorption of the irrigation fluid (1.5% glycine), since this condition coincided with high serum glycine levels and its metabolites.


CONCLUSIONS
The toxicity of glycine resorption during TURP is attributed to its metabolization to ammonia. Hyperammonemia encephalopathy causes inhibition of the brain neurotransmitters at different levels of the CNS, as well as in the retina. High intraocular concentrations of glycine affect the retinal amacrine cells, causing transient histological changes.
Virseda Rodríguez
J A
JA
Servicio de Urología del Hospital General de Albacete, España.
Hernández Millán
I
I
Segura Martín
M
M
D000042:Absorption; D000368:Aged; D000641:Ammonia / Q000378:metabolism; D001766:Blindness / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005998:Glycine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000139:chemically induced*; D011468:Prostatectomy; D012160:Retina / Q000378:metabolism; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation
D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D000641:Ammonia; D005998:Glycine