title: Assessment of Closure Competency of Sutureless Vitrectomy Sclerotomies After Scleral Hydration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the influence that hydration applied on the sclerotomy edges may have on incisional closure resistance after transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy (TSV).
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental, randomized and observer-masked study in which 23-gauge TSV was performed in 80 cadaveric pig eyes. Once each vitrectomy was finished, hydration with balanced salt solution (BSS) was applied on the sclerotomy edges of one of the superior incision sites; no maneuver was performed on the other superior sclerotomy. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was gradually increased by means of the vitrectomy system (Accurus; Alcon Laboratories, TX) until one of the superior sclerotomies opened, allowing internal ocular solution to escape.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 45% of cases (36 of 80 eyes), sclerotomies subjected to hydration allowed intraocular fluid escape (p = 0.43). There were no differences when comparing opening pressure values of hydrated and non-hydrated sclerotomies (p = 0.19).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Scleral hydration did not demonstrate increase in the sclerotomy closure resistance in our experimental model. Given the widespread use of sutureless TSV around the world, the results obtained in our research, in spite of being negative, may contribute to the knowledge of the behavior of sutureless sclerotomies.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Ophthalmology , University Hospital Principe de Asturias , Alcalá de Henares, Madrid , Spain .
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Benitez-Herreros
authors.affiliation: b Department of Surgery, Medical and Social Sciences, Faculty of Medicine , Alcalá University , Madrid , Spain and.
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lopez-Guajardo
authors.affiliation: a Department of Ophthalmology , University Hospital Principe de Asturias , Alcalá de Henares, Madrid , Spain .
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vazquez-Blanco
authors.affiliation: a Department of Ophthalmology , University Hospital Principe de Asturias , Alcalá de Henares, Madrid , Spain .
authors.forename: Aurora
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perez-Crespo
authors.affiliation: c Department of Health and Sociomedical Sciences, Biostatistics Unit, Faculty of Medicine , Alcalá University , Madrid , Spain.
authors.forename: Agustin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Silva-Mato
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004548:Elasticity / Q000502:physiology; D008903:Minerals / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012590:Sclera / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012599:Sclerostomy; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D034421:Sus scrofa; D013536:Suture Techniques; D014821:Vitrectomy
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; C030660:BSS solution; D004338:Drug Combinations; D008903:Minerals; D012965:Sodium Chloride
keywords: Balanced salt solution; closure competency; hydration; sclerotomy; vitrectomy