Air tamponade in retinal detachment surgery followed by ultra-widefield fundus imaging system

AIM： To report the surgical result of pars plana vitrectomy（PPV） with air tamponade for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment（RRD） by ultra-widefield fundus imaging system. METHODS： Of 25 consecutive patients（25 eyes） with fresh primary RRD and causative retinal break and vitreous traction were presented. All the patients underwent PPV with air tamponade. Visual acuity（VA） was examined postoperatively and images were captured by ultrawidefield scanning laser ophthalmoscope system（Optos）. RESULTS： Initial reattachment was achieved in 25 cases（100%）. The air volume was 〉60% on the postoperative day（POD） 1. The ultra-widefield images showed that the retina was reattached in all air-filled eyes postoperatively. The retinal break and laser burns in the superior were detected in 22 of 25 eyes（88%）. A missed retinal hole was found under intravitreal air bubble in 1 case（4%）. The air volume was range from 40% to 60% on POD 3. A doublelayered image was seen in 25 of 25 eyes with intravitreal gas. Retinal breaks and laser burns around were seen in the intravitreal air. On POD 7, small bubble without effect was seen in 6 cases（24%） and bubble was completely disappeared in 4 cases（16%）. Small oval bubble in the superior area was observed in 15 cases（60%）. There were no missed and new retinal breaks and no retinal detachment in all cases on the POD 14 and 1 mo and last follow-up. Air disappeared completely on a mean of 9.84 d postoperatively. The mean final postoperative bestcorrected visual acuity（BCVA） was 0.35 log MAR. Mean final postoperative BCVA improved significantly relative to mean preoperative（P〈0.05）. Final VA of 0.3 log MAR or better was seen in 13 eyes. CONCLUSION： PPV with air tamponade is an effective management for fresh RRD with superior retinal breaks. The ultra-widefield fundus imaging can detect postoperative retinal breaks in air-filled eyes. It would be a useful facility for follow-up after PPV with air tamponade. Facedown position and acquired visual rehabilitation may be shorten.

Vitrectomy with air tamponade for surgical repair of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment by eye position guided fluid-air exchange

AIM:To observe the efficacy and safety of pars plana vitrectomy(PPV)with eye position guided fluid-air exchange(FAX)and air to mponade in the treatment of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment(RRD).METHODS:RRD patients without severe proliferative vitreoretinopathy(PVR)C1 or more were enrolled.All patients underwent PPV combining with air tamponade.During operation,the primary retinal break(s)were placed at lower site and subretinal fluid was aspirated through the break(s)at the same time when eye position guided FAX was proceeding.Sufficient laser spots were made to seal the retinal break(s)after FAX,and filtered air was left in vitreous cavity as to mponade agent finally.The main outcomes were primary and final success rates,best corrected visual acuity(BCVA),and the secondary outcomes were rate of postoperative cataract surgery and high intraocular pressure.RESULTS:A total of 37 eyes(20 males and 17 females)with a follow-up time of≥6 mo were included.The range of RRD was 5.6±1.8 h,and the number of retinal breaks was 1.9±1.2.The breaks located at inferior quadrants(between 3:00 and 9:00)in 5 cases(13.5%),and both superior and inferior breaks were found in 3 cases(8.1%).A total of 25 cases(67.6%)with macular detached involvement,9 cases(24.3%)with intraocular lens,and 8 patients(21.6%)were treated with phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation together.The success rate of primary retinal reattachment was 100%(37/37).At 6 mo postoperatively,BCVA(logMAR)was increased from 1.13±1.07 to 0.23±0.15(P<0.001).Phacoemulsification combined with intraocular lens implantation was performed in 2 patients(5.4%),and one of them underwent macular epiretinal membrane peeling in addition(2.7%).Furthermore,high intraocular pressure was found in 4 cases(10.8%).CONCLUSION:PPV with air tamponade by eye position guided FAX can achieve a high reattachment success rate in the management of patients with RRD,and it has the advantages of short postoperative prone time and fewer operative complications.