Abstract
Purpose: :
To report the rate of commonly encountered complications with 3 port 23 gauge transconjunctival pars plana vitrectomy in 145 consecutive cases.
Methods: :
In this retrospective, non-comparative, single center, interventional series, 145 consecutive eyes of 143 patients underwent 23 gauge vitrectomy surgery utilizing the two step Dutch Ophthalmic Research Corporation (DORC) instrumentation and entry system along with the Bausch and Lomb Millenium vitrectomy unit. Patients were observed post-operatively and the incidence of the following events was measured: Post-operative hypotony, defined as intraocular pressure less than 6 mm Hg; active wound leak requiring suturing of the sclerostomy site; occurrence of intraoperative retinal tears; acute post-operative endophthalmitis, and acute post-operative retinal detachment.
Results: :
Patients underwent vitrectomy surgery for the following indications: Macular pucker (n=50), macular hole (n=33), rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (n=10), tractional retinal detachment (n=13), vitreous hemorrhage (n=30), retained lens fragment (n=6), and endophthalmitis (n=3). Four eyes (2.8%) had an intraocular pressure less than 6 mm Hg on post-operative day one. Sclerostomy sutures were required in 17 eyes (11.7%). Intraoperative tears were noted in 5 eyes (3.4%). No patients developed choroidal detachments, acute post-operative retinal detachments or endophthalmitis.
Conclusions: :
In this observational series, 23 gauge vitrectomy appears to be safe and effective for the management of a variety of surgical vitreoretinal diseases.
Keywords: vitreoretinal surgery