Short-Term Vitreoretinal Tamponade with Heavy Liquid Following Surgery for Giant Retinal Tear

To study the efficacy and outcomes of short-term postoperative vitreoretinal tamponade with perfluorocarbon heavy liquid in patients with giant retinal tear.

The study group consisted of 13 consecutive patients (13 eyes) who presented with giant retinal tear at a tertiary medical center in 2011-2015 and were treated with vitrectomy followed by short-term tamponade with perfluorocarbon heavy liquid. A minimum of 3 months' follow-up was required for inclusion. The medical charts were retrospectively reviewed for patient demographics, procedural specifics, anatomical attachment rates, pre- and postoperative visual acuity, and postoperative complications.

The duration of perfluorocarbon tamponade ranged from 6 to 13 days (mean ± SD 10 ± 2 days). Follow-up time ranged from 3 to 44 months (mean ± SD 11 ± 11 months). Retinal reattachment was achieved intraoperatively in all patients. Repeated detachment with proliferative vitreoretinopathy occurred in one patient (8%), who underwent repeated vitrectomies. At the last follow-up visit, the retina was attached in all patients. Best-corrected visual acuity improved postoperatively compared with preoperatively in all three patients with macula-off retinal detachment (100%) and was equal to or better than the initial best-corrected visual acuity in 6 (60%) of the 10 patients with macula-on retinal detachment. Complications included increased intraocular pressure, cataract, and cystoid macular edema.

Perfluorocarbon heavy liquid is a safe and effective material for short-term vitreoretinal tamponade following vitrectomy for giant retinal tear.