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Author Spotlight: Using Point-of-Care Ultrasound for Comprehensive Evaluation of the Abdominal Aorta
Published on: September 8, 2023
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Routine Fundoscopy: Unravelling Undiagnosed Significant Coarctation of the Aorta
Sripathi Kamath1, Akshata Charlotte1, Pooja Peethambaran1
1Ophthalmology, Father Muller Medical College, Mangalore, IND.
Cureus
|January 21, 2025
Summary
A young boy
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatrics
- Cardiology
Background:
- A 10-year-old boy presented with a two-year history of progressively diminished vision.
- Routine fundoscopy revealed severe hypertensive retinopathy, prompting further investigation.
Observation:
- Fundoscopy showed grade IV hypertensive retinopathy with a macular fan in the left eye.
- The patient exhibited extremely high blood pressure (200/140 mmHg) and differential blood pressure between upper and lower limbs (90/60 mmHg).
- Physical examination revealed feeble peripheral pulses and cold extremities.
Findings:
- Echocardiogram and CT angiogram confirmed significant coarctation of the aorta (CoA).
- The patient's visual impairment was secondary to severe, undiagnosed coarctation of the aorta.
Implications:
- This case underscores the critical role of comprehensive fundoscopic examination in pediatric patients.
- Ocular findings can be crucial indicators of potentially life-threatening systemic conditions like coarctation of the aorta.
- Early detection through routine eye exams can prevent severe cardiovascular complications and vision loss.
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