title: [Treatment of retinal arterial branch occlusion with transluminal Nd:YAG laser embolectomy].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is currently no effective therapy for retinal artery branch occlusion (RABO). Transluminal Nd:YAG embolectomy (TYE) was developed to achieve rapid reperfusion; however, it is still a subject of controversy. A Nd:YAG laser is focused on the occluded vessel, the vessel wall is ruptured and the embolism dislocates to the vitreous humor through the opening in the artery.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively examined the results of five patients treated with TYE.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The age of the patients was 26-75 years (mean age 58 years, median 68 years). Initial visual acuity was hand movements to 1.0 and all patients had visual field defects. Treatment was performed between 4 and 30 h from the onset of symptoms. Visual acuity improved markedly in two cases the next day (hand movements to 0.8 and 0.4 to 1.0) and final visual acuity was between 0.8 and 1.25. All treatments led to vitreous hemorrhage but only one patient required surgical treatment. The range of follow-up was 4-42 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results are in accordance with those published in the literature. It can be concluded that TYE is a fast, easy and readily available method that should be taken into account especially in cases with low initial visual acuity.
authors.affiliation: Augenklinik und Poliklinik, Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 11, 97080, Würzburg, Deutschland, much_m@klinik.uni-wuerzburg.de.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Much
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hesse
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017128:Embolectomy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D015356:Retinal Artery Occlusion / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014792:Visual Acuity