title: Incidence of retinal breaks in eyes undergoing 23-gauge or 20-gauge vitrectomy with induction of posterior vitreous detachment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the incidence rates of retinal breaks in eyes in which posterior vitreous detachment was induced during 23-gauge and 20-gauge vitrectomies to treat macular holes or preretinal membranes.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed 122 eyes of 115 patients with a macular hole or preretinal membrane who underwent induction of posterior vitreous detachment during 23-gauge vitrectomy (23-gauge group) and 61 eyes of 58 consecutive patients with the disorders who underwent induction of posterior vitreous detachment during 20-gauge vitrectomy performed by 1 surgeon.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No difference was found in the incidence rates of intraoperative retinal breaks between the 23-gauge (16% [20/122]) and 20-gauge (16% [10/61]) groups. A postoperative rhegmatogenous retinal detachment developed in 2 (2%) eyes in the 23-gauge group, whereas no eyes in the 20-gauge group had postoperative retinal breaks or rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. The incidence rates of retinal breaks in eyes with a macular hole and preretinal membrane did not differ significantly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Posterior vitreous detachment induced during vitrectomy frequently results in intraoperative retinal breaks, the incidence of which may be independent of the gauge of the vitreous instruments. Surgeons should be alert to the development of retinal breaks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Ohtsuka Eye Hospital, Sapporo, Japan. taiichi-hikichi@hokkaido.med.or.jp
authors.forename: Taiichi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hikichi
authors.forename: Shoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kosaka
authors.forename: Kimitaka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takami
authors.forename: Hiroko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ariga
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohtsuka
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Higuchi
authors.forename: Takuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsushita
authors.forename: Reiko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Matsushita
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D012167:Retinal Perforations / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013536:Suture Techniques; D014821:Vitrectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000601:surgery