title: Cortical blindness in obstetric patients: case report of two different presentations.
abstract: Cortical blindness can complicate pre-eclampsia/eclampsia. This normally resolves between a few hours and days with full restoration of patients sight. In this case report, we present the clinical course of two women in whom eclampsia was further complicated with blindness. One had pre-partum blindness which resolved after few hours while the second developed post-partum blindness that occurred after an episode of ischaemic cerebrovascular accident (CVA) and it became persistent. The patients were managed by standard pre-eclampsia/ eclampsia regimen; these entail the use of intravenous magnesium sulphate, i/v hydralazine and fluid restriction, as well as expedite delivery. Diagnosis was further confirmed by computed tomography (CT) that demonstrated low density areas localised predominantly in the occipital areas.
authors: Department of Anaesthesia,University of Benin Teaching Hospital, PMB 1111, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. nosaphilo@yahoo.com
authors: N P
authors: NP
authors: Edomwonyi
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Idehen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019575:Blindness, Cortical / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000379:methods; D003289:Convalescence; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; D004461:Eclampsia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate