title: The surgical management of giant retinal tears with the cannulated extrusion needle.
abstract: In 18 eyes of 17 patients, we treated retinal detachment caused by a giant retinal tear by unfolding and repositioning the retina with a cannulated extrusion needle. After pars plana vitrectomy, a fluid-gas exchange was performed with the patient in the supine position. Using the cannulated extrusion needle to drain subretinal fluid posterior to the giant retinal tear, the retinal flap was manipulated into the correct anatomic position. With this technique, 18 of 18 eyes with retinal detachment caused by a giant retinal tear were successfully reattached intraoperatively. Although eight of these eyes subsequently redetached and required additional surgical procedures, 16 of 18 eyes remain attached with a mean follow-up of 11 months.
authors.affiliation: Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, FL 33136.
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Joondeph
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Flynn
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Blankenship
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Glaser
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Stern
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009339:Needles; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D012167:Retinal Perforations / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D013484:Supination; D014792:Visual Acuity