Asymmetric postoperative visual loss after spine surgery in the lateral decubitus position.

Postoperative visual loss (POVL) is a rare but potentially devastating complication associated with spine surgery. In 1999, the American Society of Anesthesiologists Committee on Professional Liability established a POVL Registry to examine cases in search of common elements. Most cases of POVL after spine surgery which have been reported to the POVL Registry have been associated with intraoperative prone positioning. We present an atypical case that occurred after spine surgery performed in the lateral decubitus position.

Arterial bleeding diagnosed by CT in hemodynamically stable victims of blunt trauma.

Although the presence of intra-abdominal blood is a common finding on abdominal computed tomography (CT) scans performed for trauma, acute intra-abdominal bleeding is rarely diagnosed by CT. A focal area of high-density contrast, as compared to the surrounding fluid and tissues, is the characteristic CT finding associated with acute intra-abdominal bleeding and should prompt immediate intervention.