Recurrences of retinal detachment after vitreoretinal surgery, and surgical approach

A Telephone Triage System for Patients Calling with Symptoms of a Posterior Vitreous Detachment

PURPOSE

The purpose of the study was to develop a simple telephone questionnaire, without physical examination input, that predicts which patients calling with symptoms of a posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) have a retinal tear (RT) or rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RD).

DESIGN

Prospective cohort (quality improvement) study.

PARTICIPANTS

All patients with symptoms consistent with a PVD calling a major academic ophthalmology department over a 4-month period in 2020 and who were seen on follow-up within 1.5 months (211 screened and 193 included).

METHODS

A comprehensive telephone questionnaire assessing for RT/RD risk factors was administered by telephone triage staff to all patients calling with symptoms of flashes, floaters, or curtain/veil in their vision. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine risk factors most predictive of having an RT/RD during the add-on visit. Risk factor odds ratios were used to develop an RT/RD risk score.

MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES

Development of a clinical risk score for having an RT/RD at the add-on visit after telephone triage.

RESULTS

Approximately 55% of patients were previously established in the retina clinic, 26% were new to the department, 19% were previously established in the comprehensive clinic, and 7% had an RT/RD at the add-on visit. Out of 23 questions and 70 prespecified possible answers from the telephone questionnaire, the final clinical risk score for RT/RDs was derived from 7 questions and 15 possible answers. The simplified questionnaire can be administered quickly by telephone operators without any reference to physical examination or the patient's chart. The receive-operator curve for our final multivariable logistic regression and clinical risk score models have an area under the curve of > 0.90. Using a conservative clinical risk score, approximately 50% of all patients without an RT/RD can be safely seen nonurgently. Progressively higher scores can be used to determine relative urgency of an appointment.

CONCLUSIONS

To our knowledge, this is the first study to predict risk of an RT/RD in a patient calling with symptoms consistent with a PVD without reference to the patient's physical examination or chart. Our clinical risk scoring system can be used to determine urgency of an add-on appointment and increase the number of low-risk patients with symptomatic PVDs who are scheduled routinely.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S)

The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

Complications associated with the use of silicone oil in vitreoretinal surgery: A systemic review and meta-analysis

Silicone oil (SO) still represents the main choice for long-term intraocular tamponade in complicated vitreoretinal surgery. This review compared the complications associated with the use of SO and other vitreous substitutes after pars plana vitrectomy in patients with different underlying diseases. Meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. We retrieved randomized clinical trials (RCTs), retrospective case-control and cohort studies evaluating the risk of using SO, published between 1994 and 2020, conducting a computer-based search of the following databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and Embase. Primary outcome was the rate of complications such as intraocular hypertension, retinal re-detachment, unexpected vision loss or hypotony. Secondary outcome was to compare the rate of adverse events of different SO viscosities, especially emulsification. Forty-three articles were included. There were significant differences in intraocular hypertension (p = 0.0002, OR = 1.66; 95% CI = 1.27-2.18) and the rate of retinal re-detachment (p < 0.0009, OR = 0.65; 95% CI = 0.50-0.64) between SO and other agents, including placebo. However, there were no differences in other complication rates. Silicone oil (SO)-emulsification rate was non-significantly higher in low than high SO viscosity, and results from other complications were comparable in both groups. The high quality of most of the studies included in this study is noteworthy, which provides some certainty to the conclusions. Among them is the high variability of the SO residence time. The fact that ocular hypertension and not hypotension is related to SO use. A clear relationship is not found for the so-called unexplained vision loss, which affects a significant percentage of eyes. Re-detachment cases are less if SO is used and that surprisingly there does not seem to be a relationship in the percentage of emulsification between the low- and high-viscosity silicones. All these data warrant more standardized prospective studies.

Management of recurrent rhegmatogenous retinal detachment

Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) repair is one of the most common vitreoretinal surgeries a surgeon performs. In an ideal scenario, RRD can be repaired with a single surgical intervention; however, despite excellent skill, flawless technique, and the introduction of high-end technology, up to 10% of cases require additional interventions to ultimately repair recurrent detachments. It is thus important to study the outcomes of multiple interventions to understand whether performing repeat vitrectomy on patients with a history of failed surgeries is worthwhile. Thus, recurrent retinal detachment (re-RD) remains a significant challenge for vitreoretinal surgeons as well as the patients considering the economic and the emotional burden of undergoing multiple interventions. The advent of microincision vitrectomy system, perfluorocarbon liquids, and effective intraocular tamponades has opened new doors for managing re-RDs. In this article, we have reviewed and summarized the various causes and approaches for management for optimal anatomical and functional outcomes.

Outcomes of Recurrent Retinal Detachment Surgery following Pars Plana Vitrectomy for Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment

AIM

To study the anatomical and functional outcomes of recurrent retinal detachment (RD) surgery following pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of 133 consecutive cases of recurrent RD.

INCLUSION CRITERIA

age ≥18 years, recurrent RD following PPV ± encircling band for rhegmatogenous RD.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA

age <18 years, post-endophthalmitis/tractional/exudative/combined RD, post-scleral buckle, primary surgery done at another institute. The final anatomical and functional outcomes, and their association with clinico-surgical factors, were analyzed.

RESULTS

Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) ≥ Grade C in re-detached retina (OR, 2.49; 95% CI, 1.02-6.09; P = 0.045) and need for multiple resurgeries (OR, 6.48; 95% CI, 2.51-16.69; P < 0.0001) were significant risk factors for the final anatomical failure. Eyes with PVR ≥ Grade C (OR, 0.31, 95% CI, 0.12-0.80; P = 0.013) in primary RD, and with multiple breaks (OR, 0.24; 95% CI, 0.06-0.96; P = 0.044) at the time of recurrent RD, were less likely to have final BCVA ≥20/200. The visual acuity at the time of recurrent RD had a moderately positive correlation (r = 0.454, P < 0.001), and the delay in recurrence of RD had a weakly positive correlation (r = 0.214, P = 0.046) with the final BCVA.

CONCLUSIONS

PVR ≥ Grade C and multiple resurgeries are associated with higher incidence of anatomical failure in recurrent RD surgery. Multiple breaks are associated with a poorer visual outcome, whereas a better baseline visual acuity and delayed recurrence of RD after primary repair are associated with a better visual outcome.

Surgical and visual outcome for recurrent retinal detachment surgery

Purpose. To evaluate the anatomical and functional outcome of repeated surgeries for recurrent retinal detachment. Methods. We retrospectively reviewed 70 cases with refractory retinal detachment of various etiologies that required multiple operations. Anatomical success (attached retina) or failure (totally/partially-detached retina) was assessed biomicroscopically. The BCVA was used for the evaluation of the functional outcome, at presentation and at the end of follow-up. Various pre-, intra-, and postoperative factors were associated with anatomical success or failure as well as with final functionality. Results. The mean number of surgeries was 4 (range: 2 to 10). The anatomical success rate was 80% (56 attached cases, 14 detached cases). 29% of the attached cases had a BCVA better than 20/40 (Snellen chart). The number of operations doesn't seem to affect significantly the final visual acuity. The PVR was found to affect both the anatomical and functional outcome (P = 0.014 & P = 0.002, respectively). Conclusions. In the present study, it is suggested that multiple operations for refractory retinal detachment may result in successful anatomic results, with a fare functional outcome at the same time. Eventually, we verified that the existence of PVR worsens the prognosis.

Multinucleated giant cells in periretinal silicone granulomas are associated with progressive proliferative vitreoretinopathy

PURPOSE

To determine the histologic features of granulomatous reactions in persilicone periretinal proliferation.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This retrospective study included 12 patients with recurrent retinal detachment and persilicone granulomatous proliferation after vitrectomy for proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). All patients underwent reoperation for membrane surgery. Immunohistochemical study of the excised periretinal membranes was performed with cytokeratins, GFAP, vimentin, CD68, CD45, and lysozyme antibodies.

RESULTS

The cellular characteristics of periretinal granulomas allow differentiation of two types of tissue. Spongy tissue (nine cases) showed an accumulation of mature vacuolated macrophages that contained silicone without multinucleated giant cells (MGC). The second type (three cases) consisted of an accumulation of sparsely vacuolated macrophages, epithelioid cells, and MGC. The MGC corresponded to transition forms of foreign body giant cells (FBGC). Spongy tissue was associated with anatomic success (58.3% of cases) and with stabilized PVR (66.7% of cases) at the time of the membrane surgery. MGC were associated with prolonged silicone oil tamponade, recurrent retinal detachment, and progressive PVR.

CONCLUSIONS

Intraocular silicone oil can lead to periretinal foreign body granulomas. FBGC are occasionally observed and were associated with progressive PVR.