Vitreoretinal Surgeries

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Indications & Pre-op Eval - Setting the Stage

  • Indications:
    • Retinal Detachment (RD): Rhegmatogenous, Tractional
    • Vitreous Hemorrhage (non-clearing)
    • Macular Hole, Epiretinal Membrane (ERM)
    • Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (PDR) complications (TRD, VH)
    • Endophthalmitis, Intraocular Foreign Body (IOFB)
  • Pre-op Evaluation:
    • History (systemic/ocular), Visual Acuity (VA), IOP
    • Slit-lamp & dilated fundus exam (indirect ophthalmoscopy)
    • Key Investigations:
      • B-scan: Essential for opaque media (VH, cataract)
      • OCT: Macular details (MH, ERM)
    • Systemic fitness, consent (risks/benefits)

    ⭐ B-scan ultrasonography is indispensable for diagnosing RD and planning surgery when media opacity obscures the fundus view. B-scan ultrasound showing retinal detachment

Core Surgical Steps - Eye's Inner Workings

  • Setup: Anesthesia (Peribulbar/GA). Conjunctival peritomy.
  • Ports (Sclerotomies): 3 ports via pars plana.
    • Sizes: 23G, 25G, 27G.
    • Placement: Infusion (maintains IOP), Light pipe (illumination), Vitrector (cuts/aspirates vitreous).
    • Distance: 3.5-4 mm (phakic/pseudophakic), 3-3.5 mm (aphakic) from limbus.
  • Vitrectomy: Core (central) & Peripheral (base, often with scleral depression).
  • Pathology Management: Membrane peeling, endolaser photocoagulation.
  • Tamponade: Fluid-Air Exchange (FAX) → Gas ($SF_6$, $C_3F_8$) / Silicone Oil.
  • Closure: Sutureless (small gauge) or sutured ports.

3-port PPV trocar placement diagram

⭐ Silicone oil provides longer tamponade than gas; preferred for inferior breaks or Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy (PVR).

Intraocular Tamponades - Space Fillers Supreme

  • Function: Internal retinal support, appose retina to RPE.
  • Types:
    • Gases: Absorb spontaneously.
      • Air (shortest acting, ~3 days).
      • Expansile: SF6 (~2 wks), C2F6 (~4 wks), C3F8 (~8 wks).
      • 📌 Mnemonic (Expansion/Duration↑): Some Fine Carbon lasts Long (SF6 < C2F6 < C3F8 < Silicone Oil).
      • Non-expansile conc: SF6 20%, C3F8 14%.
      • Caution: No air travel/N2O with expansile gas. Gas bubble positioning post vitreoretinal surgery
    • Silicone Oil: Long-term; optically clear.
      • Viscosities: 1000, 5000 cS.
      • Needs removal. Complications: Emulsification, keratopathy, ↑IOP.

⭐ Gases cause initial myopic shift (bubble acts as minus lens); Silicone oil causes hyperopic shift (acts as plus lens).

Post-op & Complications - Aftercare & Alerts

  • Immediate Aftercare
    • Strict head positioning (e.g., face-down with gas).
    • Meds: Topical steroids, antibiotics, cycloplegics, analgesics.
    • Monitor IOP (target <21 mmHg); report significant ↑.
    • Activity: Avoid strenuous tasks, head jerks, rubbing.
  • Critical Alerts (Seek Urgent Review)
    • Sudden, severe, or increasing pain.
    • Marked ↓vision, new floaters/flashes, field defects (curtain).
    • Signs of infection: ↑Redness, discharge, lid swelling.
  • Key Complications
    • Early: ↑IOP, corneal edema, uveitis, vitreous hemorrhage.
    • Late: Endophthalmitis (⚠️ emergency!), recurrent RD, PVR, CME, ERM, cataract. Acute vs Chronic Postoperative Endophthalmitis

Staphylococcus epidermidis is the most frequent cause of post-vitrectomy endophthalmitis.

Specific VR Surgeries - Spotlight Procedures

  • Pars Plana Vitrectomy (PPV):
    • Uses: RD, VH, ERM, MH, Endophthalmitis.
    • Core: Vitreous removal, address pathology, tamponade (gas/oil).
  • Scleral Buckling (SB):
    • For RRD: esp. phakic, young, inferior breaks. Supports break.
  • Pneumatic Retinopexy (PR):
    • Select RRDs: Superior breaks (e.g., 10-2 o'clock), clear media. Gas + laser/cryo.
  • Macular Hole Surgery:
    • PPV + ILM peel + gas. High success.
    • OCT Macular Hole Before and After Surgery
  • ERM Peeling: PPV to remove macular scar tissue.

⭐ ILM peeling in macular hole surgery boosts anatomical closure (>90%) & vision.

High‑Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • Pars Plana Vitrectomy (PPV): Mainstay for posterior segment issues like RD, vitreous hemorrhage.
  • PPV also treats macular holes, epiretinal membranes, and removes intraocular foreign bodies (IOFBs).
  • Tamponade: Silicone oil or gases (SF6, C3F8); specific post-op positioning is critical with gas.
  • Endolaser photocoagulation seals retinal breaks and is used for panretinal photocoagulation (PRP).
  • Scleral buckling: External procedure, often for phakic RDs with peripheral breaks.
  • Commonest PPV complication: iatrogenic cataract; others: raised IOP, endophthalmitis.

Practice Questions: Vitreoretinal Surgeries

Test your understanding with these related questions

What is the most common cause of vitreous hemorrhage in diabetic retinopathy?

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Flashcards: Vitreoretinal Surgeries

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The most important factor in the prevention of postoperative endophthalmitis is preoperative preparation with _____.

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The most important factor in the prevention of postoperative endophthalmitis is preoperative preparation with _____.

povidone iodine

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