Factors affecting the duration of air tamponade following vitreoretinal surgery

Air as a tamponade in pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) is increasingly preferred due to its quick rehabilitation time. We aim to examine the factors affecting the absorption time of air tamponade.

The study included 82 eyes from 78 patients who underwent PPV with air used as the tamponade. All patients underwent detailed ophthalmic examinations preoperatively and on the first and third postoperative days. The study evaluated demographic and clinical characteristics, surgical indications, and whether concurrent phacoemulsification surgery was performed. A single surgeon conducted all surgeries and examinations. The intraocular air percentage and volume in milliliters were determined. Patients were divided into two groups based on whether the intraocular air volume was reduced by more or less than 1.5 ml from the first to the third day.

Concurrent cataract surgery was performed in 35.4% of the eyes. All 82 eyes were pseudophakic at the end of the surgery. The mean air percentage in the eyes was 68.90% on the first day and 47.29% on the third day. Only the concurrent cataract surgery significantly shortened the air elimination time (p = 0.005). Other factors, such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and concurrent anti-VEGF therapy, did not show a significant impact.

The study concluded that concurrent cataract surgery notably reduces air tamponade duration after PPV. We think these findings are crucial for patient selection and surgical planning, especially in cases where maintaining a longer tamponade duration is critical, such as in retinal detachment or macular hole surgeries.

What is known The use of air as tamponade is becoming increasingly widespread in vitreoretinal surgery. What is new Compared to performing the surgeries separately, air tamponade shows faster absorption in concurrent cataract and vitreoretinal surgery. Factors such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and concurrent anti-VEGF therapy do not significantly affect the absorption time of intraocular air after vitreoretinal surgery.