title: Influence of the cannulated vitrectomy system on the occurrence of iatrogenic sclerotomy retinal tears.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether the use of the cannulated vitrectomy system decreases the incidence of sclerotomy-related retinal tears relative to traditional vitrectomy techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-one eyes of 77 patients in this study were randomly selected to undergo treatment with the cannulated port system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We demonstrated a statistically significant decreased incidence of sclerotomy tears in the cannulated group relative to the noncannulated group (1% vs. 7.7%, P < 0.05). The benefit of the cannulated port system appears to be greatest in cases in which an inexperienced surgeon is learning the techniques of vitreoretinal surgery, in eyes with a preoperative diagnosis of tractional diabetic detachment, and in surgery requiring membrane delamination (simple and extensive).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The three-port vitrectomy system decreases the incidence of sclerotomy-related retinal tears.
authors.affiliation: Medical College of Pennsylvania, Hahnemann School of Medicine, Allegheny University of the Health Sciences, Philadelphia 19102, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Territo
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Gieser
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Anand
mesh_terms: D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012160:Retina / Q000601:surgery; D012167:Retinal Perforations / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012590:Sclera / Q000601:surgery*; D014821:Vitrectomy / Q000379:methods*