title: Scleral electrocautery and its effects on choroid vessels: implications for subretinal fluid drainage during scleral buckling surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  External drainage of subretinal fluid as part of a scleral buckling procedure rapidly restores the retinal pigment epithelium-neural retina interface in rhegmatogenous retinal detachments but carries the inherent risk of subretinal hemorrhage and retinal incarceration. The authors investigated variations to the technique to reduce the chance of subretinal hemorrhage originating from the choroid.
  
  
  METHODS
  A novel method for needle drainage using electrocautery of the sclerochoroidal layers before puncture was employed. The effect of 0% to 50% scleral electrocautery in a porcine model was investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant decrease in choroidal vessel diameter and choroidal vessel density at 40% electrocautery was demonstrated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Electrocautery without scleral cut-down before external drainage of subretinal fluid likely decreases the chance of subretinal hemorrhage by decreasing choroidal vascularity.
authors: Jules Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors: C Nathaniel
authors: CN
authors: Roybal
authors: Irena
authors: I
authors: Tsui
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Sanfilippo
authors: Jean-Pierre
authors: JP
authors: Hubschman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D002829:Choroid / Q000098:blood supply*; D004322:Drainage; D004564:Electrocoagulation; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000601:surgery*; D012166:Retinal Hemorrhage / Q000517:prevention & control; D012590:Sclera / Q000601:surgery*; D012591:Scleral Buckling; D058471:Subretinal Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D013552:Swine