Tarik Syndrome: Reversible Postoperative Blindness Secondary to Occipital Seizures.

BACKGROUND

Postoperative blindness is a devastating surgical complication. Although usually associated with prolonged cardiac and prone spinal operations, it may follow other procedures as well. Postoperative blindness is most commonly caused by a vascular etiology, but it can more rarely be caused by status epilepticus. We have previously reported a case of this phenomenon following a staged spinal deformity surgery.

CASE DESCRIPTION: Here we report 2 additional cases following a skull base procedure and a single stage lumbar spine surgery. In all instances, rapid recognition that the patients' blindness was due to occipital seizures resulted in acute antiepileptiform treatment and full restoration of vision.

CONCLUSIONS

Although a rare phenomenon, this syndrome, first recognized and described by Tarik F. Ibrahim, should be considered in any patient with postoperative visual impairment.