Abstract
Purpose: :
To assess the effect of vitrectomy cutter gauge and cut rate on leukocyte morphology and counts on EDTA treated normal blood samples.
Methods: :
EDTA treated normal blood samples were obtained from the hematopathology department of the Medical College of Wisconsin. Two different cutters (25 gauge (Ga) at 1500 cuts per minute (cpm) and 20 Ga at 400 cpm) were compared to an 18 gauge angiocatheter to determine difference in lymphocyte morphology and counts. In order to create equal aspiration flow rates, manual aspiration by a 1 cc syringe was performed at 0.2 cc/second with the 20 Ga and at 0.5 cc/second with the 25 Ga. The percent of monocytes and T lymphocytes were assessed by 3 color flow cytometry labeling for the following antibodies: CD3, CD14, and CD45. The percent of degenerating cells was assessed by light microscopy and manual review of 100 leukocytes on a Wright-Giemsa-stained peripheral blood smear.
Results: :
There was no significant difference in cellular degeneration noted between the three groups on light microscopy. In addition, there was no significant difference noted in the monocyte or T lymphocyte cell counts between the 18Ga angiocatheter, 20 Ga cutter, and 25 Ga cutter.
Conclusions: :
This study demonstrates that smaller Ga vitreous cutters at high cut rates can be utilized without significant impact on cellular morphology or count. This may have implications on obtaining vitreous biopsy specimens in patients with suspicion of intraocular lymphoma.
Keywords: vitreoretinal surgery • vitreous