Perfluoropropane gas in the management of proliferative vitreoretinopathy

Perfluoropropane (C3F8), an expanding fluorinated hydrocarbon gas, was used as an adjunct to vitreous surgery in the management of 18 patients with retinal detachment complicated by proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Ten patients had reattached retinas six months after disappearance of the gas. The average intraocular longevity of the gas in successful cases was 92 days; that in failed cases was 62.7 days. This difference was not statistically significant. However, internal retinal tamponade by longer-lasting gases appears to increase the rate of retinal reattachment in the surgical management of proliferative vitreoretinopathy.