Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 7, 2026
10:10
Full-Circle Cauterization of Limbal Vascular Plexus for Surgically Induced Glaucoma in Rodents
Published on: February 15, 2022
2.0K
Short-term Vision Loss Following Whipple Surgery: A Case Report
Lakshman Gollapalli1, Aashish J Kumar, Kunal Sood
1From the Department of Anesthesiology, Detroit Medical Center/Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan.
A & a Case Reports
|February 7, 2017
Summary
Postoperative blindness can signal occipital seizures. Prompt electroencephalogram (EEG) and antiseizure medication can restore vision, even without obvious seizure signs.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neurosurgery
Background:
- Occipital seizures can manifest as visual deficits.
- Pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple procedure) is a complex surgery with potential neurological complications.
- Acute-onset blindness in the postoperative period requires thorough investigation.
Observation:
- A 71-year-old female patient developed sudden blindness post-Whipple procedure.
- Electroencephalogram (EEG) revealed bilateral occipital and hemispheric seizure activity.
- Subtherapeutic phenytoin levels were identified as a contributing factor.
Findings:
- Antiseizure medication administration led to normalization of vision within 3 days.
- The patient's blindness was attributed to occipital seizures.
- EEG is crucial for diagnosing non-convulsive seizures presenting with visual disturbances.
Implications:
- Consider EEG in postoperative patients with unexplained acute blindness.
- Early diagnosis and treatment of seizures can prevent prolonged neurological deficits.
- This case highlights the importance of monitoring drug levels and considering seizures in ambiguous postoperative neurological presentations.
