Central retinal vein occlusion immediately following cardiac surgery.

The relationship between cardiac surgery and central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) has been previously documented; however, in all of these cases the occlusion occurred months after the cardiac surgery. This is the first report of a patient awakening from cardiac surgery with ophthalmoscopically documented CRVO. This diagnostic case report describes a patient who developed CRVO immediately following extensive cardiac surgery including aortic valve, aortic root, and proximal aortic arch replacements, as well as coronary artery bypass grafts. Ophthalmologists and cardiac surgeons alike should be aware that CRVO is a potential complication of cardiac surgery, especially when cardiopulmonary bypass is necessary.