[Surgical arteriovenous decompression (sheathotomy) in branch retinal vein occlusion: retrospective study].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), incidence of neovascularization and angiographic changes in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) treated with surgical decompression by sheathotomy.


METHODS
Retrospective study including 17 cases of temporal BRVO with macular edema treated with surgical decompression. Results of BCVA, incidence of neovascularization and vitreous hemorrhage 6 months following surgery are included. Angiographic changes in the first 8 cases a month after decompression are also evaluated.


RESULTS
The mean postoperatory BCVA was 0.40 with a mean improvement of 0.26. Seventy one percent of patients (12/17) improved 2 or more visual acuity lines and 53% of patients (9/17) improved 4 or more lines. Only in one case the vision worsened. There was no evidence of retinal neovascularization or rubeosis iridis six months after surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
Surgical decompression is a therapeutical option for those patients suffering BRVO with macular edema. Our initial results are encouraging, not only regarding visual acuity improvement, but also because of a decreased risk of neovascularization. No patient included in our study developed neovascularization.
Martínez-Soroa
I
I
Servicio de Oftalmología, Hospital Donostia, San Sebastián, Spain. imarsoroa@hotmail.com
Ruiz Miguel
M
M
Ostolaza
J I
JI
Pérez-Torres
S
S
Mendicute
J
J
D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*