Unilateral fixed dilated pupil in a ventilated child with asthma.

S. D. Geraerts, F. B. Plötz, C. van Goor, E. L. Duval, H. van Vught

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Abstract

An 11-year-old boy known to have asthma was referred to our intensive care unit (ICU) with progressive respiratory distress. He was sedated, paralysed, and intubated approximately 3 hours after arrival and nebulization with salbutamol and ipratropium was continued on the ventilator. About 16 hours later, he presented with transient unilateral fixed dilated pupils which resolved spontaneously without any neurological deficit. Computerized tomography scan revealed no signs of generalized cerebral oedema. Local contamination with ipratropium was most likely to be the cause of pupil dilatation, which could have occurred during connecting and disconnecting the nebulization system or through contaminated hands.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)247-248
JournalEuropean Journal of Emergency Medicine
Volume7
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2000
Externally publishedYes

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