Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment associated with massive spontaneous suprachoroidal hemorrhage and prognosis of pars plana vitrectomy

AIM:To describe the clinical characters of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment(RRD) associated with massive spontaneous suprachoroidal hemorrhage(SSCH). To evaluate optimal timing and prognosis of pars plana vitrectomy.METHODS:A retrospective review of 6 cases(6 eyes)of RRD and massive SSCH among 3772 cases of RRD was conducted. All of 6 patients were treated with twenty-gauge vitrectomy, suprachoroidal blood drainage,phacoemulsification(PHACO) or lensectomy and silicon oil tamponade. The clinical characters, intraoperative findings and treatment outcomes were reported.RESULTS:In the 6 affected eyes of 6 patients(3 men and 3 women; mean age, 53.83y; range 34-61y),preoperative visual acuity ranged from faint light perception(LP) to counting finger(CF). The average interventional duration from visual decreased to surgery was 12.8 d(range 9-15d). All eyes were associated with high myopia and the mean ocular length was 30.32 mm(range 28.14-32.32 mm). Choroidal hemorrhage were successfully drained in the operation of all 6 eyes.Intraoperative findings showed there were multiple retinal breaks in all 6 eyes and in 4 eyes breaks were along supratemporal and/or infratemporal retinal vascular arcade, especially in the edge of chorioretinal atrophy areas. These patients were followed up from 6 to 34mo(Mean, 23.5mo). The best-corrected visual acuity after surgery varied from CF to 20/100, with improvement in 5eyes(83.33%) and no change in 1 eye(16.67%). Ocular hypertension ocurred in 1 eye(16.67%), which wassuccessfully treated by silicon oil removal combined with trabeculectomy. In 4 eyes, tractional retinal detachment caused by proliferative vitreoretinopathy(PVR) appeared and a secondary surgery of pre-retinal membrane peeling and silicon oil retained were performed. In 4eyes, silicon oil cannot be removed. The initial and final reattachment rates were 33.33% and 66.67%, respectively.CONCLUSION:RRD associated with massive SSCH is an extremely rare event. The most common risk factor is long axial length. Vitrectomy and choroidal blood drainage can effectively remove suprachoroidal hemorrhage and promote retinal reattachment in these eyes. However, silicon oil could not be removed in most eyes and final visual acuities are generally poor.

Suprachoroidal injection of ketorolac tromethamine does not cause retinal damage

Rabbit right eyes were injected with 3 or 6 mg ketorolac tromethamine into the suprachoroidal space. Electroretinography results demonstrated no abnormal changes in rod cell response, maximum rod cell or cone cell mixing reaction, oscillation potential, cone cell response, waveform, amplitude, and potential of 30 Hz scintillation response in right eyes before injection, and at 1,2, and 4 weeks after injection. There was no difference between left （control） and right eyes. Under light microscopy, the histomorphology of cells in each retinal layer was normal at 4 weeks following 6 mg ketorolac tromethamine administration. These results indicate that a single suprachoroidal injection of 3 or 6 mg ketorolac tromethamine into rabbits was safe. Suprachoroidal space injection appears to be safe.

A modified method for suprachoroidal fluid drainage in kissing choroidal detachment

●AIM:To introduce a new method for suprachoroidal fluid drainage before 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy.●METHODS:A 15o side-port blade was firstly used to create a sclerotomy into the suprachoroidal space for initial drainage.A 30-guage needle was then applied to inject balanced saline solution through the existing sclerotomy for further drainage.After most of the suprachoroidal fluid was drained,standard 3-port 23-guage pars plana vitrectomy was performed.●RESULTS:We have succeeded in using this technique to treat five patients with retinal detachment and kissing choroidal detachment(KCD).The choroidal detachment was visibly recessed in all cases after drainage with no intraoperative complications.After removal of silicon oil at 3 mo follow-up,all patients obtained a reattached retina.No postoperative complications such as hypotony and endophthalmitis occurred.●CONCLUSION:The new technique is efficient and safe for suprachoroidal fluid drainage for patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.In future,further larger series are needed to attest to its safety and efficacy.

Surgical management of silicone oil migrated into suprachoroidal space after vitrectomy

AIM: To report a successful surgical management of silicone oil migrated into suprachoroidal space after the repair of the retinal detachment with hemorrhagic choroidal detachment. METHODS: Retrospective observational case report. A 30-year-old man with retinal detachment and hemorrhagic choroidal detachment due to severe corneal penetrating injury, underwent a pars plana lensectomy and vitrectomy, endolaser, and silicone oil tamponade followed by transscleral suprachoroidal hemorrhage drainage in the right eye. One week later, a localised temporal choroid elevation was noted. This persistent elevation was confirmed by operation research to be silicone oil migration into suprachoroidal space. RESULTS: The migrated silicone oil was drained via trans-scleral cut down, and the intravitreal silicone oil was removed and replaced by 16% C2F6. Over the next 2 weeks, the elevation vanished and the choroid became completely flat. CONCLUSION: The migration of silicone oil into suprachoroidal space is a rare complication of vitrectomy. The pathway of the migration is most likely through internal orifice of sclerotonny sites. Trans-scleral drainage surgery is an effective method to remove the migrated silicone oil from suprachoroidal space.

A simple technique for suprachoroidal space injection of triamcinolone acetonide in treatment of macular edema

AIM:To introduce a simple resistance controlled suprachoroidal space(SCS)injection technique using a disposable 30-gauge needle connected to a 1 m L syringe and evaluate the effectiveness and applicability of this technique in the treatment of macular edema.METHODS:A total of 20 patients with various types of macular edema were subjected to a resistance controlled SCS injection of triamcinolone acetonide(TA)with a disposable 30-gauge needle connected to a 1 m L syringe.This technique allows the easy and smooth injection of the TA only once the tip of the needle reached the potential SCS which was indicated by the lower resistance on the plunger.The main outcome measures were anterior segment spectral-domain optical coherence tomography(AS-OCT)measurements post-operation immediately and central subfield thickness(CST),best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA),and intraocular pressure(IOP)measurements at 3mo postoperation.RESULTS:AS-OCT examination showed the expansion of the SCS near the injection site immediately after SCS injection.At three months of follow-up,as compared to the baseline,the mean CST was significantly decreased from 535.0±157.24 to 319.55±127.30μm(P<0.001),the mean BCVA was significantly improved from 1.05±0.41 to 0.73±0.41 log MAR(P<0.001),and the mean IOP was not significantly different,from 15.05±2.54 to 15.85±3.60 mm Hg(P=0.185).Any complication related to the injection procedure including cataract,choroidal and retinal hemorrhage,retinal detachment,or endophthalmitis was not observed in this study.CONCLUSION:The simple and minimally invasive technique of SCS injection of TA with a disposable 30-gauge needle connected to a 1 m L syringe is useful and applicable for macular edema.

Sub-Tenon's urokinase injection-assisted vitrectomy in early treatment of suprachoroidal hemorrhage: Four cases report

BACKGROUND Suprachoroidal hemorrhage(SCH) is a rare but potentially catastrophic ocular event. Surgery for SCH is often challenging because of the difficulty in resolving the retinal and choroidal detachment. Here, we describe a novel surgical technique in which urokinase is administered by sub-Tenon's injection to target an organized clot in SCH prior to drainage.CASE SUMMARY A consecutive case series of four eyes with serous and hemorrhagic choroidal detachments secondary to cataract surgery or trauma was documented to evaluate the feasibility of using a sub-Tenon's urokinase injection-assisted 23-gauge and 20-gauge incision to drain choroidal detachments. Urokinase(2000 IU) was given by sub-Tenon's injection one day before surgery for clot liquefaction. A 23-gauge infusion line was placed in the anterior chamber. A 20-gauge incision was created in the suprachoroidal space 3.5 mm from the limbus. After drainage, pars plana vitrectomy was performed because of concomitant pathology that demanded this additional procedure. Visual acuity, ocular findings, the timing of surgical interventions, surgical procedures, and outcomes were retrospectively reviewed in four patients. Postoperative follow-up of the patients ranged from 6 to 24 mo(mean, 13 mo). After the treatment, all patients achieved excellent anatomical recovery. CONCLUSION Sub-Tenon's urokinase injection-assisted vitrectomy makes clot liquefaction happen in the early treatment stage, resulting in marked stability during the procedure.

Umbilical cord derived mesenchymal stem cell implantation in retinitis pigmentosa: a 6-month follow-up results of a phase 3 trial

AIM:To investigate the efficacy and the safety of umbilical cord derived mesenchymal stem cell(UC-MSC)implantation in patients with retinitis pigmentosa(RP).METHODS:This prospective,single-center,phase 3 clinical study enrolled 124 eyes of 82 RP patients.The patients received 5 million UC-MSCs to the suprachoroidal area with a surgical procedure.Patients were evaluated on the 1st day,1st,and 6th months postoperatively.Best corrected visual acuity(BCVA),anterior segment and fundus examinations,color photography,optical coherence tomography(OCT),and visual field(VF)tests were carried out at each visit.Fundus fluorescein angiography(FFA)and multifocal electroretinography(mfERG)recordings were performed at the end of the 6th month.Ocular and systemic adverse events of the surgical procedure were also noted.RESULTS:All of the 82 patients completed the 6-month follow-up period.None of them had any serious systemic or ocular complications.There were statistically significant improvements in BCVA and VF during the study(all P<0.05).The amplitudes of the P1 waves in the central areas showed significant improvements in mfERG recordings.There were also significant increases in implicit times of P1 waves in the central areas.CONCLUSION:Suprachoroidal administration of UC-MSCs has beneficial effect on BCVA,VF,and mfERG measurements during the 6-month follow-up period.Cell mediated therapy based on the secretion of growth factors(GFs)seems to be an effective and safe option for degenerative retinal diseases.

Does Stem Cell Implantation Have an Effect on Severity of Retinitis Pigmentosa: Evaluation with a Classification System?

Background: Cell replacement therapies have been evaluated in recent years as an alternative for various retinal pathologies to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of cell therapy, it is important to measure the severity of the disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of umbilical cord derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell (UC-MSC) implantation on severity of Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). Methods: This single-center, clinical study included data of 138 eyes of 92 patients who had a confirmed diagnosis of RP and received stem cell implantation to the suprachoroidal area with a surgical procedure. Patients were evaluated before and 1 year after the surgery regarding to the outcome measures of Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA), Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and Visual Field (VF) tests. BCVA, VF width and ellipsoid zone (EZ) width on OCT were recorded for each patient and a scoring criterion was established for each variable varying from 0 to 5 depending on its distribution. The cumulative score (from 0 to 15) was used to classify disease severity from grade 0 to 5. Results: All of the patients completed 12-month follow-up period. The median age of the patients was 40.8 years, 46% were female, 77% had been diagnosed within 10 years and 41% had a family history. 79% of the patients with family history had autosomal recessive inheritance pattern. There were statistically significant improvements in the mean BCVA and VF scores during the study (p < 0.05). The mean score and the mean grade of the disease also improved after the treatment (p < 0.05). There was a negative correlation between BCVA improvement and scoring and grading of the disease. Conclusions: This study demonstrated beneficial effect of suprachoroidally applied UC-MSCs on BCVA, VF and the severity score and grade of the disease during 12-month follow-up period. Cell mediated therapy based on the secretion of Growth Factors (GFs) seems to be an effective and safe option for the treatment of degenerative retinal diseases. This classification is simple, produces objective measure of disease severity and gives opportunity to compare the results of different treatment modalities.