20 G vitrectomy safe and effective technique in vitreoretinal surgery

Using twenty-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy in vitreoretinal surgery is a safe and effective treatment for a variety of vitreoretinal pathologies, according to a study featured in Retina.

The retrospective study led by Dr Oriel Spierer, Department of Ophthalmology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Israel, reviewed the charts of 102 consecutive patients who experienced 20-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy performed by a single surgeon.

All patients were assessed preoperatively and 1 day, 1 month and 3 months postoperatively. The main outcome measures included intraoperative/postoperative intraocular pressure and Snellen visual acuity compared to preoperative data.

Findings revealed that two patients needed suturing of 1 scleretomy due to postoperative leakage. The mean preoperative visual acuity was 1.1 ± 0.6. Three months postoperatively the mean visual acuity was 0.8 ± 0.5.

Mean preoperative intraocular pressure was 14.7 ± 5.1 mmHg, whilst postoperatively it was 14.2 ± 5.5 mmHg and 14.6 ± 4.3 mmHg at day 1 and day 7, respectively.

In three patients hypotony was found on the first day postoperatively, but intraocular pressure returned to normal within a week. There was no record of postoperative endophthalmitis or retinal detachment in any of the patients.