Assessing Surgical Anatomic Outcomes in Primary Retinal Detachment

A study sought to compare the surgical anatomic outcomes between three methods of subretinal fluid (SRF) drainage in primary retinal detachment repair. The findings were presented at the American Society of Retina Specialists 2021 Annual Meeting.

“The approach to SRF drainage in pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) may be a consequential decision that can influence surgical outcomes. Comparing anatomic outcomes of three distinct methods of SRF drainage may inform future intraoperative decision-making in RRD repair,” the researchers wrote.

This retrospective study, led by Jose J. Echegaray and colleagues, comprised 488 consecutive patients with primary RRD repaired via PPV and SRF drainage at a peripheral retinal tear (PRT), a posterior retinotomy (PR), or with perfluorocarbon liquid (PFCL). Any patients with advanced PVR, giant retinal tears, trauma, and/or secondary forms of RRD and who were younger than 18 were excluded from analysis. The primary endpoint was stipulated as single operation anatomic success (SOAS). Logistic regression was used to assess risk of a retinal redetachment (RR) with respect to the extension of RRD, type of gas tamponade, and number of retinal tears. The mean follow-up interval duration was 14.3 months.

According to the results, SRF drainage at a PRT demonstrated greater SOAS than with PFCL but had similar outcomes to PR. The researchers observed that eyes with RRD >3 hours had greater SOAS than those with RRD <3 hours when drained at a PR. Overall, “RRD extension groups had similar outcomes with PRT drainage. PRT drainage had greater SOAS outcomes with perfluoropropane (C3F8) tamponade than sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), but drainage at a PR showed similar outcomes for both gas tamponades,” the researchers concluded.

Source: Echegaray J, et al. Outcomes of Subretinal Fluid Damage Methods in Pars Plana Vitrectomy for Primary Retinal Detachment. Published for ASRS 2021; October 8-12, 2021, San Antonio, TX.