23-Guage Vitrectomy with Internal Gas Tamponade for the Management of Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment

Abstract

Purpose: To find out functional and anatomical outcomes of 23-G pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with gas tamponade (C3F8/SF6) for Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment (RRD). Study Design: Quasi Experimental Study. Place and Duration of Study: Liaquat National Hospital Karachi Ophthalmology department, from October 2020 to April 2021. Methods: Fifty-five eyes of 55 patients with RRD were included in the study by convenient sampling. The patients underwent 23-G PPV with gas tamponade under general anesthesia. Anatomical and functional results were evaluated in the form of retinal attachment and change in the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA). Frequency of complications were also assessed. An average follow up period was 6 months. Results: Out of 55 patients, 32.7% were males and 67.3% were females. Mean age of the patients was 49.14 ± 17.11 years ranging from 17 years to 79 years. Four quadrants were involved in 36.4% of the patients. Among 55 eyes, 40% were phakic and 60% were pseudophakic. Only 4 (7.3%) patients needed redo procedure. Mean pre-operative and post-operative visual acuity was 2.52 ± 0.67 and 0.80 ± 0.66 with a significant mean difference of 1.71. Anatomical success was seen in 92.7% of patients. Conclusion: Anatomical success and improvement in the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) is achievable with 23-G PPV with expansible gas used as internal tamponade in the treatment of RRD.