Temporary Blindness Due to Sodium Nitroprusside Overdosage in a Postoperative Patient: an Unusual Adverse Effect

Abstract

Sodium nitroprusside dihydrate (SNP) is a powerful and easily managed vasodilator which is administered by intravenous infusion following appropriate dilution. Although it was first used in 1951 for treating hypertensive crises in adults, its use in children for this indication was first reported in 1969. ¹ Since this report, it has been widely used in various cardiovascular and other disorders amenable to hypotensive therapy. The drug must be used carefully because it has some undesirable effects like fatigue, syncope, and shock due to rapid fall in blood pressure. Also, if the drug is administered in high dosage, symptoms of cyanide (CN) poisoning may appear. ² Symptoms and signs of nitroprusside toxicity in children have been underemphasized in the medical literature. In this article, a child is presented who had temporary blindness due to SNP intoxication in the postoperative period after correction of coarctation of the aorta.