SMALL-GAUGE VALVED VERSUS NONVALVED CANNULA PARS PLANA VITRECTOMY FOR RETINAL DETACHMENT REPAIR

To compare functional and anatomical outcomes and complication rates between valved versus traditional nonvalved small-gauge cannula vitrectomy for retinal detachment repair.

Retrospective case series of 163 eyes undergoing small-gauge valved versus nonvalved vitrectomy with intraoperative perfluoro-n-octane for retinal detachment repair at a single academic institution.

There were 104 eyes in the valved cannula group and 59 eyes in the nonvalved cannula group. The valved group had lower baseline Grade C proliferative vitreoretinopathy (35 vs. 53%, P = 0.031) and combined rhegmatogenous retinal detachment/tractional retinal detachment (3 vs. 12%, P = 0.037), but both groups had otherwise comparable preoperative characteristics. Final postoperative best-corrected visual acuity was 1.01 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (Snellen 20/205) and 1.27 (Snellen 20/372) (P = 0.131) in valved and nonvalved cannula eyes, respectively. Single surgery success was equivalent between the valved and nonvalved groups (88 vs. 86%; P = 1.00). Final anatomical success was higher in the valved versus nonvalved group (98 vs. 90%; P = 0.027). Complication rates were not statistically different, including Postoperative Day 1 intraocular pressure, Postoperative Day 1 anterior chamber fibrin, retained subretinal/intraocular perfluoro-n-octane, and epiretinal membrane peeling.

Valved cannulas, with their improved fluidics, are an important addition to pars plana vitrectomy with similar functional and anatomical success without increased complication rates compared with traditional nonvalved cannulas.