[Iatrogenic retinal breaks during vitrectomy: retrospective study].
OBJECTIVE
To establish the incidence and characteristics of iatrogenic retinal breaks occurring during vitrectomy and to propose a protocol for their management.


METHODS
Retrospective study of 195 consecutive vitrectomies performed in 2001. Minimum follow up was 3 months for all cases.


RESULTS
13 patients with iatrogenic retinal breaks (6.6%) have been detected. In 8 cases the breaks affected the peripheral retina, in 4 cases they were located in the posterior pole and there was one retinal dialysis. In 4 cases there were more than one retinal break. 9 patients (70%) were vitrectomized for diabetic retinal complications. In 12 cases, the breaks were detected during surgery and treated with endolaser and/or cryoretinopexy (3 cases located inferiorly). Nevertheless 7 cases (54%) developed a retinal detachment, 2 of which could be reattached.


CONCLUSIONS
Among iatrogenic retinal breaks produced during vitrectomy, the peripheral ones are slightly more frequent than the breaks in the posterior pole. Iatrogenic breaks occur more frequently in diabetic patients, having a bad prognosis and often developing a retinal detachment despite endolaser or cryoretinopexy.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012160:Retina / Q000293:injuries*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012421:Rupture / Q000209:etiology; D014821:Vitrectomy