title: The role of vitrectomy assisted rt-PA injection for the management of branch retinal vein occlusion: case report.
abstract: Case reports on three patients who underwent vitrectomy assisted t-PA injection for the management of branch retinal vein occlusion. Three-port, 20-gauge vitrectomy was performed under local anesthesia. After posterior vitreous detachment and fluid-air exchange, 50 microg t-PA/0.5 ml were injected in the eye. All patients were instructed for strict supine position for 6 hours. Main outcome measure was visual acuity. Three patients with branch vein occlusion (BVO) were studied, with duration of symptoms less than 25 days, and mean follow-up period of 18.8 months. Although no intraoperative complications were noticed, no one showed any significant improvement of vision. One patient required a second operation for the management of intravitreal hemorrhage, and another developed an epiretinal membrane. Vitrectomy assisted t-PA injection does not seem to improve the course of branch retinal vein occlusion in this small case series. Future research on intravitreal thrombolysis needs to be focused on additional mechanical approaches and modalities that can facilitate the access of the drug into the vascular lumen.
authors.affiliation: Retina Service, Ophthalmology Clinic, Heraklion University Hospital, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Emmanouil V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Christodoulakis
authors.forename: Miltiades K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Tsilimbaris
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014821:Vitrectomy; D014822:Vitreous Body
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator