Perfluorocarbon liquid in the management of retinal detachment with proliferative vitreoretinopathy

To describe the techniques and results of perfluoro-N-octane used during vitrectomy for managing retinal detachment with severe proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR).

The authors retrospectively studied 223 consecutive patients who underwent vitreoretinal surgery for severe PVR (93% D1-D3). Patients underwent an average of 1.72 prior vitreoretinal surgeries. Perfluoro-N-octane was used intraoperatively to flatten the retina, avoiding posterior drainage retinotomy, to identify areas of residual retinal traction and periretinal membranes, to stabilize the peripheral retina during dissection of anterior PVR, and to help determine the extent and location of relaxing retinotomies. Extended-term gas tamponade was used in 91% of eyes. All patients were followed for a minimum of 6 months.

Seventy-eight percent of the retinas were reattached posterior to the scleral buckle after a single vitreoretinal surgery and 96% were reattached after multiple surgeries. An average of 1.24 vitrectomy surgeries were required. The final visual acuity was 20/400 or better in 74% of eyes and 20/80 or better in 30% (P = 0.004). Preoperative hypotony (intraocular pressure < or = 5 mmHg) and multiple prior vitreoretinal surgeries were associated with a poor final visual acuity (P = 0.01 and 0.02, respectively). Preoperative hypotony (intraocular pressure < or = 5 mmHg) was associated with a greater frequency of relaxing retinotomies (P = 0.02). Retained perfluoro-N-octane was observed postoperatively in the vitreous cavity in 1.3% and subretinal perfluoro-N-octane in 0.9%.

Experience with perfluoro-N-octane has demonstrated its usefulness both diagnostically and therapeutically as an intraoperative tool and improved the anatomic and visual outcome for retinal detachment complicated by severe PVR.