Safety of 20-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy

To study the safety of 20-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy.

Clinical data of patients who underwent 20-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy for the first time, for various disorders, were reviewed retrospectively. The main outcome measures were the number of sclerotomies requiring suturing as well as the intra- and postoperative complications.

A total of 179 operations were performed. Indications for vitrectomy included 68 idiopathic epiretinal membranes, 26 macular holes, 23 phakic and 16 pseudophakic retinal detachments, and 46 various other, less common etiologies. Of these 179 operations, 166 (93%) were sutureless. Of the 537 sclerotomies created, 25 (5%) received a single transconjunctival-scleral suture. Intraoperative complications included premature dislodging of the cannulas in 2 sclerotomies and an iatrogenic horseshoe tear at 1 sclerotomy site. Postoperative complications comprised transient hypotony in 14 cases, subconjunctival gas in 2 cases, and choroidal effusion in 1 case. No serious complications (such as endophthalmitis) were observed.

20-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy can be considered safe, as the intra- and postoperative complications observed are neither numerous nor significant. Sclerotomies appear to be safe and relatively easy to perform, without compromising the advantages of sutureless surgery.