PAVE syndrome could be fatal

Article

Presumed Air by Vitrectomy Embolisation (PAVE) could be a fatal syndrome, states a paper in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

Presumed Air by Vitrectomy Embolisation (PAVE) could be a fatal syndrome, states a paper in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

A study led by Dr Robert E. Morris, Helen Keller Foundation for Research and Education, Birmingham, Alabama, USA, included the analysis of three cases of suspected venous air embolism (VAE). The team investigated how air exits the eye through vortex veins after accidental suprachoroidal air infusion.

The group performed vitrectomy on four donor eyes. During air fluid exchange the unsutured cannulas were partially withdrawn and this produced choroidal detachments that imitated accidental suprachoroidal air infusion from a slipping cannula. A water bath was used to partially submerge eyes with and without clamping of the vortex vein stumps.

According to the findings, extensive choroidal detachment was created in all eyes and all patients with open vortex veins demonstrated rapid air extravasation/bubbling.

The results of the experiment support the recognition of PAVE and demonstrate that simple surgical precautions can prevent the potentially fatal vitrectomy complication.

Please click here to read the abstract.

Recent Videos
Charles Wykoff, MD, PhD, discusses his Floretina ICOOR presentation topic, retinal non-perfusion in diabetic retinopathy, with David Hutton, editor of Ophthalmology Times
Elizabeth Cohen, MD, discusses the Zoster Eye Disease study at the 2024 AAO meeting
Victoria L Tseng, MD, PhD, professor of ophthalmology and glaucoma specialist, UCLA
Brent Kramer, MD, of Vance Thompson Vision speaks at the 2024 AAO meeting
© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.