Pneumatic retinopexy: success rate and complications.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the success rate and complications of pneumatic retinopexy performed at a university hospital and to identify which patients are best suited for pneumatic retinopexy.


METHODS
This was an interventional case series. Retrospective review of 61 patients who had pneumatic retinopexy performed by two retina surgeons at two University of California, San Francisco hospitals between 1998 and 2004. Patients who had been treated for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) with pneumatic retinopexy were identified by reviewing operative reports and billing records. The primary outcome measure was anatomical reattachment of the retina with a single intervention. Secondary outcome measures included postoperative visual acuity and postoperative complications.


RESULTS
33 of 61 (54%) cases were successful with a single procedure. 40 of 61 (66%) cases were successful with repeat injection of gas or laser retinopexy alone. All cases had anatomical success at final follow up. Age, myopia, lens status, and number of breaks were not proved to be risk factors for failure. The average duration of follow up was 15 months.


CONCLUSIONS
In this case series, pneumatic retinopexy was less effective for the repair of RRD than most large published reports. However, failure of pneumatic retinopexy followed by scleral buckle or pars plana vitrectomy did not negatively influence visual acuity at final follow up.
University of California, San Francisco, 510-468-9085, 6294 Narcissus Avenue, Newark, CA 94560, USA. azaidi@gmail.com
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Zaidi
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Alvarado
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Irvine
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003452:Cryosurgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011312:Pressure; D012008:Recurrence; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride