Immediate Sequential Bilateral Vitreoretinal Surgery: Descriptive Case Series and Literature Review

Abstract

Background and objective: Bilateral vision-threatening disease necessitating urgent surgery in both eyes is challenging in vitreoretinal disorders, where surgeries are often longer and higher risk than in other ocular disorders. The authors present a case series of patients undergoing immediate sequential bilateral vitreoretinal surgery (ISBVS) on the same day.

Patients and methods: Retrospective case series and literature review. Main outcome measures were surgical indications, systemic diseases, presenting and final visual acuity, and adverse events or complications during or after surgery.

Results: During the time period searched, 14 patients underwent ISBVS, without significant adverse events, infections, or complications. Illustrative cases are presented.

Conclusion: The authors recommend considering ISBVS under certain conditions, such as in patients who are unable to undergo local anesthesia surgery, and in those who definitely require urgent or semi-urgent bilateral vitreoretinal surgery requiring a second general anesthesia in the near future if performed separately, especially in cases where the anesthesia is considered high risk. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2020;51:494-498.].