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Ocular motor apraxia following cardiac surgery
1Department of Ophthalmology, University of Ottawa.
Summary
Ocular motor apraxia, a deficit in voluntary saccades, was observed in two children post-cardiac surgery. This rare condition impacts eye movement control, affecting visual tracking and gaze.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Neurology
Background:
- Ocular motor apraxia (OMA) is a rare neurological disorder characterized by impaired voluntary saccadic eye movements.
- It is typically associated with genetic conditions or brain lesions, not commonly with post-surgical complications.
Observation:
- Two pediatric cases of isolated ocular motor apraxia are presented.
- Both cases developed following cardiac surgery, suggesting a potential iatrogenic or complication-related etiology.
- Electro-oculography in one patient revealed significantly slow saccades and reduced ocular pursuit gain.
Findings:
- The study highlights a novel association between cardiac surgery and the onset of ocular motor apraxia in children.
- Findings suggest that supranuclear gaze control mechanisms may be vulnerable to complications arising from cardiac procedures.
- The observed electro-oculography results corroborate the diagnosis of apraxia and quantify the degree of oculomotor dysfunction.
Implications:
- This report expands the known spectrum of potential neurological complications following pediatric cardiac surgery.
- It underscores the importance of considering iatrogenic causes for new-onset oculomotor deficits in pediatric patients.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the specific mechanisms linking cardiac surgery to ocular motor apraxia and to inform preventative strategies.