Short-term outcome of bimanual 23-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy for patients with complicated vitreoretinopathies

Abstract

Background and objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of bimanual 23-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy for patients with complicated vitreoretinopathies.

Patients and methods: Twenty-nine eyes of 27 patients that received bimanual 23-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy were prospectively enrolled. Fourteen eyes with diabetic tractional retinal detachment, 13 eyes with complicated rhegmatogeneous retinal detachment (including 3 traumatic retinal detachments), and 2 eyes with massive subretinal hemorrhage received 23-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy. The visual and anatomical outcomes and the complications were measured.

Results: Visual acuity improved from 2.15 +/- 1.03 to 1.24 +/- 1.33 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (LogMAR) in the complicated diabetic retinopathy group (P = .002) and from 2.07 +/- 1.17 to 1.09 +/- 1.15 LogMAR in the complicated retinal detachment group (P = .009). Anatomical success was achieved in 23 of 29 (79.3%) eyes after the first vitrectomy and in 27 of 29 (94.6%) eyes after the final procedure.

Conclusion: The bimanual 23-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy was feasible and reproducible in patients with complicated vitreoretinal disease. This technique might provide a safe and effective alternative to the standard 20-gauge vitrectomy for severe complicated cases.