Early Drainage of Macula-Involving Massive Suprachoroidal Haemorrhage Assisted with Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen...

A massive suprachoroidal haemorrhage (SCH) is a devastating complication with significant morbidity and poor visual and anatomic outcome. Conventional management is to observe for 7-14 days before surgical drainage. However, permanent structural changes in the retina can occur within this timeframe. Suprachoroidal injection of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) may speed up clot breakdown and aid early surgical drainage. We present a case series of macula-involving massive SCH (MSCH) treated with early drainage aided by recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (r-tPA).

Retrospective case series of 3 patients with macula-involving MSCH treated with suprachoroidal r-tPA within 24 h of bleed and early drainage of SCH within 48 h of r-tPA injection, combined with vitrectomy and tamponade. 100 µg of recombinant TPA was injected into the SCH 24 h following initial injury in all patients. Drainage of the SCH was then performed 6-48 h after the injection of r-tPA. Early drainage was successful and visual improvement was seen in all patients. One patient had a recurrence of SCH but was successfully re-treated.

The technique of r-tPA-assisted early drainage of SCH is safe and has promising potential to restore visual function in patients with macula-involving MSCH. Our small sample would indicate that 100 μg/0.4 mL of r-tPA injected within 24 h of bleed allows surgical drainage of SCH as early as day 2 post initial injury. Larger studies are required to investigate further which patients are likely to benefit from this treatment.