title: The treatment of difficult retinal detachments with an expanding gas bubble without vitrectomy.
abstract: In a prospective study on the use of perfluorocarbon gases (CF4, C2F6, C3F8) without prior mechanical vitrectomy, 51 retinal detachments that were not suitable for scleral buckling were treated by injection of a small bubble of gas into the vitreous to form a tamponade. There were 23 patients with giant tears, 16 with posterior holes, 9 with breaks at different latitudes, and 3 in whom the gas was used for diagnostic purposes. The gases were sustained at therapeutic volumes for 10-70 days. The tears were sealed with argon or krypton laser. The overall reattachment rate was 71%. Postoperative visual acuity improved or remained the same in all patients with reattached retina. In a follow-up of 1 year-38 months there were no late complications, such as cataract, glaucoma, keratopathy, or subsequent visual deterioration.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005740:Gases; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012167:Retinal Perforations / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D005466:Fluorocarbons; D005740:Gases