Comparison of pneumatic retinopexy with alternative surgical techniques.
To determine the efficacy of pneumatic retinopexy, the authors conducted a retrospective study of 56 cases of uncomplicated retinal detachments (RDs) treated with this technique (follow-up, 6-18 months). These were compared with 28 similar cases treated with a Lincoff balloon and 78 similar cases treated with a scleral buckle. The long-term success rates for these three groups were 71, 64, and 96%, with the incidence of new breaks being 20, 18, and 1.3% respectively. In aphakic or pseudophakic patients with an absent or ruptured posterior capsule, the success rate for pneumatic retinopexy was only 43%. In phakic and aphakic patients with an intact posterior capsule, the success rate for pneumatic retinopexy improved to 81%. These data suggest that this technique is less effective in aphakic or pseudophakic patients with an absent or ruptured posterior capsule and that careful follow-up to detect new breaks is necessary in all cases. A prospective randomized study is needed to verify these data.
McAllister
I L
IL
Department of Ophthalmology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, OH 44106.
Meyers
S M
SM
Zegarra
H
H
Gutman
F A
FA
Zakov
Z N
ZN
Beck
G J
GJ
D000388:Air; D001035:Aphakia / Q000150:complications; D002404:Catheterization; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012591:Scleral Buckling