Visual disturbances and transurethral resection of the prostate: the TURP syndrome

Eur Neurol. 1997;38(1):7-9. doi: 10.1159/000112895.

Abstract

A 73-year-old man with a history of a cerebral and a cardiac vascular disease and atrial flutter developed visual disturbances characterized by vision being dark in both eyes and by seeing as through a color photographic negative immediately after an uncomplicated transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) for prostatic hyperplasia under spinal anesthesia. There was complete remission of the symptomatology after 2.5 h. A cerebrovascular workup was negative. Considering postoperative hyponatremia and hypoosmality, we discuss the possible role of glycine-induced visual disturbances as described in the TURP reaction syndrome, to our knowledge an entity almost unknown in the neurologic literature. Glycine-induced visual disturbances should therefore be considered in the differential diagnosis of bilateral transient visual loss.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Glycine / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Prostatectomy / adverse effects*
  • Remission, Spontaneous
  • Syndrome
  • Therapeutic Irrigation / adverse effects
  • Vision Disorders / chemically induced*
  • Vision Disorders / diagnosis
  • Water Intoxication / complications

Substances

  • Glycine