title: Endophthalmitis in the era of small gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy--meta analysis and review of literature.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goal of this study was to review, evaluate, and perform a meta-analysis on the current literature that reports rates of postoperative endophthalmitis after small gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy (TSV) and compare it to 20-gauge pars plana vitrectomy (20G PPV).
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed an extensive review of the current literature. We included only large comparative institutional reviews. Meta-analysis of these reviews was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found six large retrospective comparative cases series on the 25-gauge (25G) TSV as compared to 20G PPV. The test for homogeneity for the meta-analysis indicates that the studies are not homogeneous and therefore the evidence is tentative.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We cannot conclude that 25G TSV has a higher rate of postoperative endophthalmitis compared to the 20G PPV. Future retrospective or prospective trials need to take into consideration multiple factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA. hmbahrani@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Hasan M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Bahrani
authors.forename: Ahad A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Fazelat
authors.forename: Mathis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Tatsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hirose
authors.forename: Arnold J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Kroll
authors.forename: Peter L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Lou
authors.forename: Edward A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Ryan
mesh_terms: D003228:Conjunctiva; D009877:Endophthalmitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013536:Suture Techniques; D014821:Vitrectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000601:surgery