Risk factors for suture requirement and early hypotony in 23-gauge vitrectomy for complex vitreoretinal diseases

To find out the rate of suture requirement and post-operative hypotony in a series of 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy cases and analyze the factors affecting post-operative hypotony and leakage of sclerotomy leading to suture placement.

This is a single-center retrospective interventional case series. Eighty-four eyes underwent 23-gauge vitrectomy. Primary endpoint measures were rate of leakage of 23-gauge sclerotomies requiring suture placement at the end of surgery and rate of early post-operative hypotony. Secondary endpoint measures were risk factors for early hypotony and leakage requiring suture placement at the end of surgery.

Suture placement in at least one sclerotomy because of sclerotomy leakage was required in 28.6 % (24 of 84) of eyes at the end of surgery. Early post-operative hypotony was seen in 14.3 % (12 of 84). Silicone oil endotamponade and single-step surgery were found as factors increasing the risk of sclerotomy leakage leading to suture placement. Suture placement was the only significant factor increasing the risk of early post-operative hypotony.

Sclerotomy sutures may be required in 23-gauge surgery, more frequently in cases of single-step sclerotomy and/or silicone oil endotamponade. Meticulous suturation of leaking sclerotomies may decrease the rate of post-operative hypotony.