title: Pneumatic displacement of submacular haemorrhage.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the outcomes of pneumatic displacement of submacular hemorrhage secondary to choroidal neovascular membrane (CNV) (n= 9) and retinal arterial macroaneurysm (RAM) (n= 3).
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective case series study of 12 eyes from 12 patients in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen, UK. The mean duration of visual loss was 10.8 ± 4.11 days. All cases received intravitreal injection of expansile gas within 24 h of presentation (C3F8 in 11 cases and SF6 in one case) and postured face down for five days. Anterior chamber paracentesis was done right after gas injection. Intravitreal anti-VEGF was injected at the same time in cases with CNV. Further anti-VEGF injections were done in CNV cases as needed afterwards. Cases were followed up for 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The submacular hemorrhage was successfully displaced from underneath the fovea in all but one case. The bleeding disappeared totally in 44% of cases and was inferiorly displaced in 56%. VA improvement at 6 months was statistically significantly higher than baseline VA. All cases but 2 (one because of subfoveal fibrosis and one because of late presentation) experienced improved VA. The mean VA improved from 1.37 ± 0.18 logMAR at baseline to 0.83 ± 0.26 logMAR at 6 months. No complication related to the procedure was reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pneumatic displacement of submacular hemorrhage appears to be a safe and effective technique to treat the condition. It is an easy procedure that can be done in outpatient setting. Further studies are needed to validate our results.
authors.affiliation: Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen, UK; KKESH, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ehab
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Abdelkader
authors.affiliation: Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen, UK; Worcester Royal Hospital, Charles Hastings Way, Worcester, UK.
authors.forename: Kay P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Yip
authors.affiliation: Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen, UK; Royal Hallamshire Hospital Sheffield, UK.
authors.forename: Kurt Spiteri
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Cornish
keywords: CNV; Exudative AMD; Pneumatic displacement; Retinal arterial macroaneurysm; Submacular hemorrhage