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Intraoperative mechanical failure of a 25-gauge vitreous cutter
Matthew F Appenzeller1, Michael R Petersen, Robert E Foster
1From the Cincinnati Eye Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Purpose:
To describe the mechanical failure of a 25-gauge vitreous cutter intraoperatively and the management of this complication.
Methods:
An observational case report of a 39-year-old Type 1 diabetic woman with proliferative retinopathy who underwent pars plana vitrectomy with 25-gauge instrumentation.
Results:
Breakage of the 25-gauge vitreous cutter occurred during delamination of a dense fibrovascular plaque. The cutter was successfully removed via the trocar as a single unit. The patient recovered with no sequelae.
Conclusions:
Breakage of 25-gauge instrumentation intraoperatively is a very rare event. This case constitutes only the second reported complication as such. However, it is easily managed and can result in few, if any, adverse sequelae.
