Postoperative complications and intraocular pressure in 943 consecutive cases of 23-gauge transconjunctival pars plana vitrectomy with 1-year follow-up.
BACKGROUND
To report the rate of postoperative complications in 943 consecutive eyes operated on with 23-gauge transconjunctival pars plana vitrectomy.


METHODS
Single-center, retrospective, noncomparative, interventional case series. Nine hundred and forty-three eyes underwent 23-gauge transconjunctival core and peripheral vitrectomy with peripheral laser at the sclerotomy sites from May 2005 through April 2008. The main outcome measures were intraocular pressure at 1 day and at 1 week and intra- and postoperative complications with at least 6-month follow-up.


RESULTS
Eight hundred and thirty-one eyes (88%) did not have either significant intra- or postoperative complications. Sclerotomy leakage requiring suture occurred in 37 eyes (3.9%). One choroidal detachment (0.1%) spontaneously resolved 1 week after surgery. At postoperative Day 1, 31 eyes (3.3%) experienced transient hypotony. Forty-five eyes (4.8%) presented a subtle vitreous hemorrhage that resolved spontaneously. Two retinal detachments (0.2%) occurred, one at 1 month and one at 3 months. They resolved with one further vitrectomy. Seven hundred and forty eyes completed the 12-month follow-up and presented no further complications.


CONCLUSIONS
Twenty-three-gauge complete vitrectomy and peripheral laser seem safe for a variety of vitreoretinal surgical procedures. The rate of post- and intraoperative complications compares favorably with 25-gauge and with the standard 20-gauge vitrectomy.
Parolini
Barbara
B
Department of Ophthalmology, Ospedale Sacrocuore Don Calabria, Negrar, Verona, Italy.
Prigione
Guido
G
Romanelli
Federica
F
Cereda
Matteo G
MG
Sartore
Mauro
M
Pertile
Grazia
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003228:Conjunctiva; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012590:Sclera / Q000601:surgery; D012599:Sclerostomy; D014821:Vitrectomy / Q000379:methods*; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000601:surgery