Cortical blindness during coil embolization of an unruptured intracranial aneurysm--case report.

A 62-year-old woman suffered transient cortical blindness during coil embolization for a saccular aneurysm in the posterior circulation, with cerebral angiography using non-ionic contrast material. Just before completion of the procedure, the patient showed abrupt onset of restlessness and blindness. At this point 150 ml of contrast material had been injected into the left vertebral artery. Immediate computed tomography showed persistence of contrast medium in the bilateral occipital lobes and part of the left frontal lobe. Repeat angiography showed no evidence of embolism. Single photon emission computed tomography obtained the next day showed decreased perfusion in the bilateral occipital lobes. Magnetic resonance imaging on the third day showed multiple lesions in the bilateral occipital lobes. Her vision was restored gradually. Transient cortical blindness may be associated with osmotic disruption of the blood-brain barrier in the bilateral occipital lobes. Endovascular neurosurgeons must be aware of this rare complication.