Interaction of different ocular endotamponades as a risk factor for silicone oil emulsification.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the influence of other substances used intraoperatively in vitreoretinal surgery on the emulsification of silicone oil in patients' eyes.


METHODS
Gas chromatography coupled mass spectroscopy of the headspace (GC/MS/HS) was used to detect volatile compounds in silicone oil samples explanted from patients qualitatively as well as quantitatively. Surface and interfacial tensions of the explanted samples were measured using the pendent drop technique.


RESULTS
Some samples of nonemulsified explanted silicone oil were not different in their content of volatile substances measured by GC-MS/HS. In all explanted samples of emulsified silicone oil volatile substances could be detected, which do not exist or are at the detection limit in native silicone oil for ophthalmic use. The majority of contaminants are heavy liquids, cleaning substances, and oligosiloxanes.


CONCLUSIONS
The contact of silicone oil with all types of substances should be reduced to a minimum. Reuse of tubing sets must be avoided. If a direct exchange between heavy liquids and silicone oil seems necessary, turbulence at the interfaces must be avoided and the contact time between these two endotamponades must be kept as short as possible. If these precautions are obeyed, the risk of emulsification of silicone oil used as an ocular endotamponade can be significantly reduced, down to the influence of individual patients' conditions.
Dresp
Joachim H
JH
Bausch and Lomb GmbH, Munich, Germany.
Menz
Dirk-Henning
DH
D020878:Device Removal; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004655:Emulsions; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000737:chemistry*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012827:Silicone Oils / Q000737:chemistry*; D014821:Vitrectomy
D004655:Emulsions; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D012827:Silicone Oils