A Novel Automated Aspiration of Subretinal Fluid Method During Scleral Buckling for Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment

The goal of the study was to introduce a modified technique for the removal of subretinal fluid during scleral buckling to treat rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

This case series study comprised 18 cases of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment patients suffering from a novel automated aspiration of subretinal fluid method during scleral buckling. The cases took place from July 2023 to November 2023 at the First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China. Preoperative and intraoperative situations were evaluated, and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography and scanning laser ophthalmoscopy were used to observe the absorption of subretinal fluid (SRF) in the early postoperative period.

The SRF method's automated aspiration primarily eliminated the SRF of all 18 rhegmatogenous retinal detachment cases during scleral buckling surgery, leading to retinal reattachment, as showed by scanning laser ophthalmoscopy. The method did not cause extensive intraoperative hemorrhage and had no risk of retinal incarceration or other complications. The spectral-domain optical coherence tomography showed that the height of SRF in the macular area decreased in 10 cases (66.67%), leaving just a thin layer; was completely cleared in two cases (13.33%); had just a macular single bleb in one case (6.67%); and had several blebs left in two cases (13.33%).

These findings suggest that the automated aspiration of the SRF method is effective, controllable, and beneficial for retinal reattachment, especially in the early postoperative period. Complications with this method were rare.