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Central retinal vein occlusion after coronary artery bypass surgery: A case report
Ufuk Ciloglu1, Mustafa Aldag2, Sebnem Albeyoglu1
1Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Siyami Ersek Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Insights
Central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) is a rare complication following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. This case report highlights CRVO as a potential risk after cardiac procedures, emphasizing the need for vigilance.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Cardiology
- Vascular Surgery
Background:
- Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is a common procedure for treating coronary artery disease.
- Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is frequently used during CABG operations.
- Central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) is a serious vascular event affecting the eye.
Observation:
- A 59-year-old male developed sudden vision loss in his left eye on postoperative day two after undergoing CABG with CPB.
- Ophthalmological examination confirmed central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) in the affected eye.
- No improvement in visual acuity was observed after five months of treatment.
Findings:
- This report details the first case of CRVO occurring after CABG surgery.
- It is the third reported instance of CRVO following cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).
- The patient's visual outcome remained poor despite treatment.
Implications:
- Central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) should be considered a potential complication following cardiac surgery, including CABG.
- Increased awareness among cardiac surgeons and ophthalmologists is warranted.
- Further research may explore the mechanisms and preventative strategies for CRVO post-cardiac surgery.
Objective:
The aim of this study is to report a case of central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. In this report, we present the third case in the literature with CRVO after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), and the first case after CABG.
Case Report:
A 59-year-old male patient complaining of chest pain was admitted to our hospital. The patient underwent an elective coronary angiography and was diagnosed with three-vessel coronary artery disease. An uneventful coronary artery bypass graft operation was performed using CPB. On the second postoperative day, the patient described blurring and decreased vision in his left eye, whereas the right eye was normal. The anterior-posterior segment was examined by an ophthalmologist who diagnosed central retinal vein occlusion, using a visual acuity test, fundoscopy. After 5 months of treatment, there has been no improvement in the patient's visual acuity.
Conclusion:
As two previous case reports indicated CRVO can be a rare complication after CPB, this study demonstrated that CRVO can also be a complication of CABG. Therefore, CRVO should always be considered as a potential complication after cardiac surgery.
