Case series of patients with central retinal artery obstruction with the diagnosis confirmed with bedside ultrasound [poster] Conference Poster uri icon
Overview
abstract
  • Introduction/Background: Central retinal artery obstruction (CRAO) is a rare diagnosis but often results in sudden severe permanent vision loss. It is one of the newest indications for hyperbaric oxygen therapy, but time to treatment may be important with current recommendations stating patients should be treated within 24 hours. The purpose of this study was to confirm that bedside ultrasound may play a role in the diagnosis of CRAO. Materials/Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted to include all CRAO cases from January 2016 to March 2016 that were evaluated for CRAO with a bedside ultrasound. The diagnosis of CRAO was confirmed by Ophthalmology. Bedside ultrasound was conducted on the patient’s eyes bilaterally. Results: 4 cases of CRAO were documented, 3 of which were later treated with hyperbaric oxygen because they were within the 24-hour treatment window. All patients had objective findings of decreased blood flow or possible emboli within the central retinal artery that was detectable by ultrasound. Summary/Conclusions: Bedside ultrasound may be an important tool to hasten the diagnosis of central retinal artery occlusion to decrease the time to hyperbaric oxygen treatment.

  • publication date
  • 2016
  • Research
    keywords
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Eye
  • Radiography
  • Retrospective Studies