Postprostatectomy seizures: A case report

A 75-year-old Caucasian male presented with generalized seizures half-hour post-transurethral resection of the prostate surgery. The intra-operative course was complicated by perforation of the posterior wall of the bladder neck during a difficult Foley catheter placement. This resulted in intraperitoneal extravasation of the glycine containing bladder irrigation fluid. An emergent laparotomy was performed, and 3.5-4 L of fluid was drained from the peritoneal cavity. Postoperative course was complicated by two seizures within a short interval. Patient developed profound hyponatremia (Na of 109 mEq/L). However, measured serum osmolality was normal (283 mOsm/kg). The serum osmolality remained relatively stable, indicating that the absorbed glycine and its metabolites remained osmotically active in the intravascular space (until they were dialyzed as mentioned later), making the hyponatremia less pernicious and an unlikely cause of patient's symptoms. The encephalopathy and seizures were ascribed to accumulation of toxic metabolites of glycine, especially ammonia (serum level -1261 mcmol/L). During a complicated postoperative period, patient developed oligo-anuric renal failure, and was started on slow low-efficiency dialysis for 8 hours resulting in rapid lowering of serum ammonia levels and glycine with reversal of encephalopathy including seizures. There was no recurrence of encephalopathy, seizures, or metabolic acidosis. Although rare, glycine toxicity may be life threatening. The pathophysiology, need for early detection and the role of early use of renal replacement therapy in acute glycine toxicity is discussed below.