Carbon Monoxide-Related Vision Loss in an Acute Burn Patient

• Published in: Journal of burn care & research Vol. 45; no. 5; pp. 1331 - 1332
• Main Authors: Setia, Karishma, Newsom, Megan, Hashimi, Habiba, Collins, Jay, Senthil-Kumar, Prabhu, Feldman, Michael J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: US Oxford University Press 06-09-2024
• Subjects: Adult; Blindness - etiology; Burns - complications; Burns - therapy; Carbon Monoxide Poisoning - complications; Carbon Monoxide Poisoning - therapy; Humans; Hyperbaric Oxygenation; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; carbon monoxide poisoning; hyperbaric oxygen therapy; smoke inhalation; cortical blindness
• ISSN: 1559-047X; 1559-0488; 1559-0488
• DOI: 10.1093/jbcr/irae099

Abstract
Carbon monoxide poisoning can occur as part of smoke exposure in the burn population. Here we report the case of a 32-year-old, previously healthy male, with carbon monoxide-related blindness after smoke exposure in an apartment fire. Cerebral hypoperfusion was diagnosed using magnetic resonance imaging of the brain, and the patient was diagnosed with cortical visual impairment. He was treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy following which he had partial recovery of his vision. There is a paucity of information regarding this phenomenon and its treatment.