Outcomes and complications of 25-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy for proliferative diabetic retinopathy

Ophthalmologica. 2011;226(2):76-80. doi: 10.1159/000328407. Epub 2011 May 25.

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the feasibility and efficacy of 25-gauge vitrectomy in the treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).

Methods: All patients underwent primary 25-gauge vitrectomy for simple vitreous hemorrhage (VH), fibrovascular proliferation (FVP), or tractional retinal detachment (TD), and were followed for more than 1 month. Final visual outcomes and intraoperative and postoperative complications were evaluated.

Results: 167 eyes (138 patients) were used in this study, 65 eyes (39%) with VH, 66 eyes (40%) with FVP, and 36 eyes (21%) with TD. Measured using the mean logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR), visual acuity (VA) significantly improved (p < 0.0001). Intraoperative iatrogenic retinal breaks developed in 19 eyes (11%). Concerning postoperative complications, VH in 36 eyes (22%), retinal detachment in 2 eyes (1%), and neovascular glaucoma 12 eyes (7%) were observed. No endophthalmitis developed.

Conclusions: Twenty-five-gauge vitrectomy can successfully treat PDR. Clinical outcomes and complications are comparable to those of 20-gauge vitrectomy.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Conjunctiva / surgery
  • Diabetic Retinopathy / surgery*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Intraoperative Complications
  • Male
  • Microsurgery / methods*
  • Middle Aged
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Retinal Detachment / surgery
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Suture Techniques*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Visual Acuity / physiology
  • Vitrectomy / methods*
  • Vitreoretinopathy, Proliferative / surgery
  • Vitreous Hemorrhage / surgery