Vitrectomy with and without scleral buckling for retinal detachment

Vitrectomia com e sem "scleral buckling" para descolamento da retina

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Vitrectomy with and without scleral buckling for retinal detachment

Vitrectomia com e sem "scleral buckling" para descolamento da retina

Rubens Camargo Siqueira^I; Cássio Villa Marin C. Gomes^II; Cláudio Dalloul^III; Rodrigo Jorge^IV

^IEspecialista em Retina e Vítreo do Hospital do Olho - HORP - São José do Rio Preto (SP) - Brasil

^IIFellow em Retina e Vítreo do HORP - São José do Rio Preto (SP) - Brasil

^IIIResponsável pelo Departamento de Retina e Vítreo da Universidade de São Paulo - USP - Ribeirão Preto (SP) - Brasil

^IVResponsável pelo CERV - Centro Especializado de Retina e Vítreo do HORP - São José do Rio Preto (SP) - Brasil. Médico colaborador em pesquisa da USP - Ribeirão Preto (SP) - Brasil. Responsável pelo Departamento de Oftalmologia da Faculdade de Medicina de Catanduva - Catanduva (SP) - Brasil

^{Corresponding author}

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To compare the surgical results of vitrectomy with and without scleral buckling for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RD).

METHODS: Fifty-one patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) at different stages were submitted to pars plana vitrectomy as the primary surgery, 23 patients (45.09%) with scleral buckle (group I) and 28 (54.90%) without scleral buckle (group II). Visual acuity, anterior segment complications, intraocular pressure, strabismus and retina reattachment rate were evaluated in both groups.

RESULTS: The anatomical success and postoperative complications were similar in both groups. Retinal reattachment was achieved in 20 of 23 eyes (87%) of group I and in 24 of 28 eyes (85.7%) of group II after the initial surgery (p=1.000). Elevated intraocular pressure was noted in 2 eyes (8.7%) of group I and 1 eye (3.6%) of group II (p=0.583). Corneal abnormalities were seen in 3 eyes (13%) of group I and 2 eyes (7.19%) of the group II (p=0.647). Visual acuity improved from a preoperative median of 20/200 to a median of 20/100 in group 1 and from 20/400 to 20/100 in group 2; the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (p<0.05). The mean follow-up period was 10 months, ranging from 6 to 18 months.

CONCLUSIONS: Both surgical procedures had similar reattachment rates. Intra- and postoperative complications were similar considering both procedures. Visual acuity improved significantly in group 2 (vitrectomy without scleral buckling).

Keywords: Retinal detachment; Scleral buckling; Vitrectomy; Visual acuity; Comparative study

RESUMO

OBJETIVOS: Comparar os resultados cirúrgicos da vitrectomia com e sem "buckle" escleral para descolamento da retina regmatogênico (DR).

MÉTODOS: Cinqüenta e um pacientes com descolamento da retina regmatogênico com proliferação vitreorretiniana (PVR) em diferentes estádios foram submetidos a vitrectomia pars plana como cirurgia primária; 23 pacientes (45,09%) com buckle escleral (grupo 1) e 28 pacientes (54,90%) sem "buckle" escleral (grupo 2). Acuidade visual, complicações do segmento anterior, pressão intra-ocular, estrabismo e razão do redescolamento da retina foram avaliados em ambos os grupos.

RESULTADOS: O sucesso anatômico e complicações pós-operatórias foram semelhantes em ambos os grupos. A reaplicação da retina foi obtida em 20 dos 23 olhos (87%) no grupo 1 e em 24 dos 28 olhos (85,7%) no grupo 2 após a cirurgia inicial (p=1,000). Aumento da pressão intra-ocular foi notada em 2 olhos (8,7%) no grupo 1 e em 1 olho (3,6%) no grupo 2 (p=0,583). Anormalidades na córnea foram vistas em 3 olhos (13%) no grupo 1 e em 2 olhos (7,19%) no grupo 2 (p=0,647). A acuidade visual melhorou de uma média pré-operatória de 20/200 para uma média de 20/100 no grupo 1 e de 20/400 para 20/100 no grupo 2, com diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os grupos (p<0,05). O período médio de seguimento foi de 10 meses, variando entre 6 e 18 meses.

CONCLUSÕES: Ambos procedimentos cirúrgicos tiveram razão semelhante de reaplicação da retina. Complicações intra- e pós-operatória foram semelhantes em ambos os procedimentos. A acuidade visual melhorou significativamente no grupo 2 (vitrectomia sem "buckle" escleral).

Descritores: Descolamento retiniano; Recurvamento da esclera; Vitrectomia; Acuidade visual; Estudo comparativo

INTRODUCTION

Pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) combined with a moderately high and broad scleral buckling (SB) is the standard treatment for retinal detachment with proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR)^(1-5). Silicone oil (SO) or perfluoropropane gas (C₃F₈) are recommended for retina tamponade after PPV^(4-5).

The anatomic success rate of PPV with scleral buckle, SO tamponade, and lensectomy has reached 70-90%, which is considered to be acceptable^(1,6-21). However, useful visual acuity (VA) is not always achieved after this difficult and delicate surgery. In addition, several complications such as strabismus, induction of astigmatism, and change of axial length can result from scleral buckle^(9-10).

Some authours hypothesized that the complete removal of all proliferative membranes and vitreous, and the repair of all retinal breaks will lead to successful treatment of PVR without scleral buckle⁽¹¹⁾.

There is controversy about the use of scleral buckling in PPV for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. The objective of the present study was to compare pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with and without scleral buckling as concerns visual acuity (VA) and complications such as anterior segment abnormalities, high intraocular pressure and retinal reattachment.

METHODS

Fifty-one patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with PVR at different stages were submitted to vitreoretinal surgery, twenty-three patients (45.09%) with scleral buckle (group I) and twenty-eight patients (54.90%) without scleral buckle (group II), during a period of 2 years, with the below described vitrectomy technique.

Surgery was performed under peribulbar anesthesia by a single surgeon (R.C.S). Standard Three-port Pars Plana Vitrectomy was performed using the Accurus vitrectomy apparatus (Alcon, Fort Worth, Texas, USA) with the sclerotomies placed 4.0 mm (phakic eyes) or 3.5 mm (aphakic and pseudophakic eyes) posterior to the limbus.

Limited core vitrectomy and removal of the vitreous close to the sclerotomy used for the insertion of the vitreous cutter were initially performed. In phakic eyes, in order to avoid direct trauma of the lens caused by the vitrectomy instruments, vitrectomy at the vitreous base from the 6- to 12-o'clock position was performed with the vitreous cutter held by the right hand, and that from the 12- to 6-o'clock position was performed with the left hand⁽¹²⁾.

Initially, the central vitreous was removed (core vitrectomy), with later peeling of dense epiretinal membranes. Vitreous shaving was performed with scleral indentation by an assistant using a muscle hook. Next, the remaining traction points were identified, including those of hard removal, i.e., star folds with intraretinal fibrosis. At those sites, instead of removing membranes with the use of forceps, a puncture retinotomy was performed using endodiathermy. After relaxing the traction areas, subretinal fluid was aspirated with a long extensible silicone-tipped cannula, taking advantage of the created retinotomy. After this procedure, we checked whether the entire retina was attached and, if this was not the case, additional retinotomies were made to release the traction, and a new aspiration of subretinal fluid was performed.

Breaks were treated with transcleral cryoretinopexy under microscopic visualization and endoillumination or with argon laser endophotocoagulation. Treatment also involved retinal degenerative areas and precursors of retinal breaks (i.e., lattice degeneration). Cryotherapy was used for anterior breaks to avoid lens trauma from the laser probe, and photocoagulation was used for equatorial and retroequatorial breaks and along the entire edge of the puncture retinotomies. At the end of the procedure 5000 centistoke silicone oil was instilled into all eyes. All patients received a complete ophthalmologic examination including best-corrected VA, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, indirect ophthalmoscopy, and fundus color photography before and after the surgery. All cases were carefully followed for development of possible complications and maintenance of retinal stability.

The best-corrected VA at the last follow-up examination was used for the analysis. The characteristics of all patients are shown in table 1.

Statistical analysis

In the comparison regarding reattachment rate, cataract formation and glaucoma, the Fisher exact test was used for statistical analysis. For visual acuity comparison, the Kruskal-Wallis test was used. All tests were applied using 95% confidence interval (p<0.05).

RESULTS

The anatomical success and postoperative complications were similar in both groups (Table 1). Retinal reattachment was achieved in 20 of 23 eyes (87%) in group 1 and in 24 of 28 eyes (85.7%) in group 2 after the initial surgery (p=1.000). Elevated intraocular pressure was noted in 2 eyes (8.7%) of group 1 and 1 eye (3.6%) of group 2 (p=0.583) (Figure 1). Corneal abnormalities were seen in 3 eyes (13%) of group 1 and 2 eyes (7.19%) of group 2 (p=0.647). The visual acuity improved from a preoperative median of 20/200 to a median of 20/100 in group 1 and from 20/400 to 20/100 in group 2; the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (p<0.05) (Table 1).

Anterior segment abnormalities included persistent corneal edema and cataract. Persistent corneal edema was observed in 3 eyes (13%) of group 1 and 2 eyes (7.19%) of group 2. There was no significant difference between both groups (p= 0.647) (Figure 2). Cataract occurred in 2 (8.7%) eyes from group I and 6 (21.4%) eyes from group II patients, with no significant difference between them (p=0.269) (Figure 3).

Retinal reattachment was achieved in 20 of 23 eyes (87%) of group 1 and in 24 of 28 eyes (85.7%) of group 2 after the initial surgery. The reattachment rates were similar in both groups (p=1.000) (Figure 4).

No strabismus was found in patients of both groups.

DISCUSSION

A variety of options is available for retinal detachment repair, including pneumatic retinopexy, scleral bucking and vitrectomy alone or in combination with a scleral buckle.

While scleral buckle surgery is the traditional method of retinal detachment repair⁽¹⁾, the use of vitrectomy surgery is on the rise. Potential disadvantages of vitrectomy with scleral buckle include an acute change in refractive error⁽¹⁰⁾, increased swelling and discomfort during the early postoperative period, and, uncommonly, strabismus or acute or delayed infection related to the use of a foreign-body support element. Potential advantages of vitrectomy without scleral buckling include: minimal trauma to the eye, reduced pain and postoperative swelling; minimal acute change in refractive error; reduction in floaters; and improved identification of breaks and reattachment during surgery, even when individual breaks cannot be located.

Some authors⁽¹¹⁾ demonstrated that vitrectomy with vitreous shaving without scleral buckling achieved approximately the same rate of anatomic success as vitrectomy with SB in eyes with PVR and that encircling SB is not needed for the reattachment of a retina with PVR as long as all of the peripheral vitreous is removed and all retinal breaks are repaired.

Another article⁽²²⁾ reported that primary vitrectomy in combination with scleral buckling has led to a marked decrease of primary failure rate and improvement of functional results in retinal detachment surgery.

We observed in our study that the anatomical success and postoperative complications were similar in both groups (vitrectomy with and without buckle). Retinal reattachment was achieved in 20 of 23 eyes (87%) of group with scleral buckle and in 24 of 28 eyes (85.7%) of group without scleral buckle after the initial surgery (p=1.000). Elevated intraocular pressure was noted in 2 eyes (8.7%) of the group with scleral buckle and 1 eye (3.6%) of the group without scleral buckle (p=0.583). Corneal abnormalities were seen in 3 eyes (13%) of the group with scleral buckle and 2 eyes (7.19%) of the group without scleral buckle (p=0.647).

We obtained good postoperative visual recovery in the group without buckle from a preoperative median of 20/400 to a median of 20/100 (p<0.05). These results were considered to be due to the reduction of the complications associated with scleral buckle mentioned previously and due to the good anatomic success rate.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, both surgical procedures (vitrectomy with and without buckle) can achieve favorable and comparable anatomic outcomes in the majority of patients in the treatment of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RD). Intra- and postoperative complications are similar in the two procedures. Visual acuity improved significantly in the group with vitrectomy without scleral buckle which was found to be effective to repair the primary retinal detachment.

Recebido para publicação em 23.06.2005

Última versão recebida em 16.08.2006

Aprovação em 30.08.2006

Trabalho realizado na Disciplina de Oftalmologia da Faculdade de Medicina de Catanduva - Catanduva (SP) - Brasil e Hospital do Olho de Rio Preto - São José do Rio Preto (SP) - Brasil.

Nota Editorial: Depois de concluída a análise do artigo sob sigilo editorial e com a anuência do Dr. João Carlos Miranda Gonçalves sobre a divulgação de seu nome como revisor, agradecemos sua participação neste processo.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  19 June 2007
• Date of issue
  Mar 2007

History

• Accepted
  30 Aug 2006
• Reviewed
  15 Aug 2006
• Received
  23 June 2005