Comparison of scleral buckle surgery with and without gas tamponade for the treatment of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment

Abstract

Purpose : Our study compared the outcomes and complications of scleral buckle (SB) surgery with and without gas tamponade for the treatment of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD).

Methods : Retrospective multicenter chart review of 213 eyes of 213 patients were collected. One hundred and twelve patients underwent SB surgery with gas tamponade between 2013-2015 in Royal Alexandra Hospital. One hundred and one patients underwent SB surgery without gas tamponade between 2005-2015 in Rabin Medical Center. Only patients followed for at least 12 months were included.

Results : The final average visual acuity in the SB without gas group was 0.3 logMAR versus 0.6 logMAR in the SB with gas group (P=0.056). The final rate of central anatomical success in the last examination (12 months) was 99% in the SB without gas group versus 97% in the SB with gas group (P=0.623), while 10.9% and 4.5% respectively had sill areas of retinal detachment in their final examination. On 1 week examination 7.9% in the SB without gas group and 3.6% in the SB with gas group needed laser photocoagulation treatment. On final twelve months examination 7.9% of the SB without gas group and 12.5% of the SB with gas group had postoperative complications (P=0.145). In a sub-analysis of the RRD location, 50 patients (45%) in the SB surgery with gas tamponade group had a superior RRD compared to 25 patients (25%) in the SB surgery without gas tamponade group. The final rate of areas of retinal detachment in superior RRD in the last examination (12 months) was 16% in the SB surgery without gas group versus only 2% in the SB surgery with gas group (P=0.04).

Conclusions : There were no significant differences in the final rate of anatomical success and complications between the two groups. Both Scleral buckle with and without gas tamponade had high anatomical success rate in our study. In a sub-analysis of the RRD location, the final rate of areas of retinal detachment in superior RRD was statistically significantly lower in the SB surgery with gas tamponade group compared to SB surgery without gas tamponade group.

This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.