Abstract
Although there are many causes of anisocoria in the intensive care setting, the development of unilateral mydriasis in patients with intracranial hemorrhage or tumor is a neurological emergency, as it may herald the onset of uncal herniation. We describe two patients with a hemiparesis from neurosurgical disorder who subsequently developed a fixed and dilated pupil. The pupillary abnormality was caused by nebulized ipratropium bromide in both cases, and resolved when the medication was discontinued. Nebulized ipratropium may leak from the mask into ipsilateral eye and cause mydriasis in patients with facial weakness. This benign cause of anisocoria in the intensive care setting is distinguished from uncal herniation by the laterality of neurologic findings, and lack of mental status change, ptosis, and extraocular movement impairment.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 176-177 |
Number of pages | 2 |
Journal | Indian Journal of Critical Care Medicine |
Volume | 18 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 2014 |
Keywords
- Anisocoria
- hemiparesis
- ipratropium bromide
- mydriasis
- uncal herniation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine