Adventitial sheathotomy for treatment of macular edema associated with branch retinal vein occlusion

Long-term outcome after vitrectomy for macular edema with retinal vein occlusion dividing into the occlusion site

Purpose. To investigate the efficacy of treatment for macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion (RVO) with vitrectomy. Methods. This retrospective study identified patients with macular edema associated with RVO between January 2004 and April 2006. Inclusion criteria were eyes with (1) preoperative visual acuity (VA) of 20/40 or worse, (2) a central foveal thickness (CFT) greater than 250 μm, and (3) vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane and intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide. Each patient had their RVO classified as a major or macular BRVO or hemispheric RVO (HSRVO). Results. Forty-six eyes with major BRVO, 18 eyes with macular BRVO, and 17 eyes with HSRVO were investigated. VA was significantly improved at 24 months after surgery for each group (P < 0.05). Vision in the macular BRVO group 24 months after surgery was significantly better than that in other groups (P < 0.05). For each group, a concomitant reduction of CFT was noted at every time point when compared to preoperative values (P < 0.001). Conclusions. In macular BRVO, the postoperative vision 24 months after surgery was significantly better than the other groups. These findings suggest that additional and earlier treatments might be more important for patients with major BRVO and HSRVO than for those with macular BRVO.

Sheathotomy in complicated cases of branch retinal vein occlusion

PURPOSE

To report the clinical experience and results of using a microsurgical technique to decompress the arteriovenous connection in complicated branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) combined with haemorrhage, oedema and ischaemia.

METHODS

We carried out a retrospective, non-randomized, interventional case study of the surgical sheathotomy decompression procedure. We enrolled 12 patients (seven women, five men; median age 64 years) with BRVO and decreased visual acuity (VA) caused by haemorrhage, oedema and ischaemia. The mean duration of thrombosis was 7 months (2-15 months). The patients were examined for pre- and postoperative best corrected VA (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP) and fundus photography. Ten patients were examined with fluorescein angiography and eight with ocular coherence tomography (OCT). Postoperative progression of cataract was recorded, as were other complications. The mean follow-up time was 20 months (8-39 months).

RESULTS

Best corrected VA had improved in nine patients, was unchanged in one patient and had deteriorated in two patients at the last follow-up. Noted complications were venous haemorrhage at surgery in five patients, retinal detachment in one patient and progression of cataract in four patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Microsurgical treatment with sheathotomy of BRVO is a technically feasible procedure with few complications. Postoperative increased reperfusion could explain the resolution of macular haemorrhage, oedema and ischaemia, and may improve visual function in patients with this common vascular eye disease.

Preoperative visual acuity as a prognostic indicator for laser treatment of macular edema due to branch retinal vein occlusion

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

To determine the visual outcome of laser treatments for macular edema due to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) in patients with a preoperative visual acuity (VA) of 20/200 or worse compared to patients with a preoperative VA of better than 20/200.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Records of 88 patients with macular edema secondary to BRVO undergoing laser treatment from 1984 to 2003 were reviewed. Mean VA was measured before and after each treatment and after the final treatment.

RESULTS

All patients received between one and five laser treatments. Preoperative VA was better than 20/200 in 56 patients (group 1) and 20/200 or worse in 32 patients (group 2). Patients in group 1 had a mean improvement of 0.48 lines and 57% had a final VA of 20/40 or better. Patients in group 2 had a mean improvement of 1.69 lines and 20% had a final VA of 20/40 or better.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with poor VA (20/200 or worse) secondary to macular edema due to BRVO responded positively to laser treatment. The level of preoperative VA can be a useful predictor of visual outcome. These patients should consider laser treatment before alternative, more aggressive approaches.

Evaluation of arteriovenous crossing sheathotomy for decompression of branch retinal vein occlusion

PURPOSE

To report the effects of arteriovenous adventitial sheathotomy on anatomical and functional improvements in patients with macular oedema due to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).

METHODS

Pars plana vitrectomy and arteriovenous sheathotomy was performed on 11 patients with BRVO who had vision loss due to macular oedema. Ten patients with macular oedema due to BRVO and who have been treated with grid laser photocoagulation were included in the control group. The measurement of visual acuity with ETDRS chart was taken preoperatively and at 1, 3, 6, and 9 months follow-up in the study group and at 1, 3, 6, and 9 months after grid laser in the control group.

RESULTS

The mean preoperative logMAR visual acuity was 0.84+/-0.3 in the surgical group and 1.06+/-0.4 in the control group. The postoperative mean logMAR visual acuity was 0.41+/-0.2, 0.40+/-0.2, 0.40+/-0.3, and 0.36+/-0.3 at 1, 3, 6, and 9 months follow-up, respectively. In the control group the postlaser mean logMAR visual acuity was 0.92+/-0.3, 0.87+/-0.4, 0.85+/-0.3, and 0.82+/-0.3 at 1, 3, 6, and 9 months follow-up, respectively. The improvements of visual acuity in both groups were statistically significant when compared to pretreatment (P=0.003 and P=0.007 at 9 months in the study and control group, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Arteriovenous sheathotomy for decompression of BRVO in patients who have vision loss due to macular oedema was safe and effective for anatomical and functional improvement and resulted in significantly better visual outcomes than a matched control group of laser-treated eyes.

The management of retinal vein occlusion: is interventional ophthalmology the way forward?

Retinal vein occlusions (RVO) are the second commonest sight threatening vascular disorder. Despite its frequency treatments for RVO are unsatisfactory and include several that have not been tested by large, well designed, prospective, randomised controlled trials. There is also the lack of long term follow up in many of the available small uncontrolled studies, and the timings of interventions are haphazard. This review aims to evaluate the current knowledge relating to the pathogenesis, suggested treatments for the different types of RVO, and their complications. Isovolaemic haemodilution is of limited benefit and should be avoided in patients with concurrent cardiovascular, renal, or pulmonary morbidity. Evidence to date does not support any therapeutic benefit from radial optic neurotomy, optic nerve decompression, or arteriovenous crossing sheathotomy on its own. Vitrectomy combined with intravenous thrombolysis may offer promise for central RVO. Similarly, vitrectomy combined with arteriovenous sheathotomy intravenous tissue plasminogen activator may offer benefits for branch RVO. RVOs occur at significantly high frequency to allow future prospective randomised controlled studies to be conducted to evaluate the role of different therapeutic modalities singly or in combination.

INTRAVITREAL TRIAMCINOLONE AS PRIMARY TREATMENT OF CYSTOID MACULAR EDEMA SECONDARY TO BRANCH RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION

PURPOSE

To describe six patients treated with intravitreal triamcinolone (IVT) as primary therapy for cystoid macular edema (CME) secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).

METHODS

Retrospective case series.

RESULTS

The age of the patients ranged from 53 years to 87 years (mean, 66 years). The time between BRVO and treatment with IVT ranged from 2.0 months to 4.7 months (mean, 3.5 months). Pretreatment visual acuity ranged from 20/40 to 6/200 (mean, 20/166). Length of follow-up ranged from 107 days to 175 days (mean, 149.5 days). Final visual acuity ranged from 20/40 to 3/200 (mean, 20/137). Three of six eyes showed improvement in vision. All three patients who did not have vision improvement were treated with a second injection. At the final follow-up visit, all six eyes had improved vision from baseline. Five (83.3%) of six eyes showed an improvement of > or = 2 lines of vision. One patient had a postoperative rise in intraocular pressure requiring a trabeculectomy. Final visual acuity in the 6 eyes ranged from 20/200 to 20/30 (mean, 20/106).

CONCLUSION

IVT may be of potential use in treating CME due to BRVO, as either a primary or an adjunctive treatment modality. A prospective, randomized trial to clarify this role is warranted.

Transvitreal limited arteriovenous-crossing manipulation without vitrectomy for complicated branch retinal vein occlusion using 25-gauge instrumentation

PURPOSE

To evaluate a new technique, 25-gauge transvitreal limited arteriovenous-crossing manipulation without vitrectomy (LAM), for the treatment of branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) complicated by macular hemorrhage and/or macular edema recalcitrant to grid laser photocoagulation.

METHODS

Twelve eyes of 12 patients underwent LAM for BRVO performed by a single surgeon (M.S.H.) using the 25-gauge nitinol flexible-extendable blunt pick. The presence or absence of intraoperative reperfusion visualization, pre- and postoperative visual acuity, macular thickness as measured by optical coherence tomography, intraocular pressure, and lens status were evaluated.

RESULTS

Restoration of blood flow was noted in all patients and was based on intraoperative reestablishment of a red column of erythrocytes through the previously closed vessel. Mean visual acuity improved from 20/200 (logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution [LogMAR] +/- SD, 1.00 +/- 0.32) preoperatively to 20/70 (LogMAR +/- SD, 0.56 +/- 0.28) (P = 0.0003) at the final visit. Eleven (92%) of 12 eyes had >or=2 lines of visual improvement. Five eyes (45%) had final visual acuity of 20/50 or better. Mean macular thickness +/- SD improved from 401.0 +/- 73.2 to 178.7 +/- 19.6 microm (P < 0.0001) at the final visit. No statistically significant difference was noted in cataract progression or intraocular pressure. Mean follow-up +/- SD was 49.9 +/- 19.6 weeks. All patients were observed for at least 12 weeks.

CONCLUSION

LAM may achieve outcomes comparable with those of arteriovenous adventitial sheathotomy for complicated BRVO.

Multiple laser treatments for macular edema attributable to branch retinal vein occlusion

PURPOSE

To report the visual outcome of multiple laser treatments for macular edema attributable to branch retinal vein occlusions (BRVO) and to determine if any prognostic factors exist for improvement.

DESIGN

Retrospective chart review.

METHODS

A private practice with four vitreoretinal surgeons performed laser treatments on 88 eyes of 88 patients with macular edema secondary to BRVO from 1984 to 2003. Mean preoperative and postoperative visual acuities were collected after each laser treatment. Final visual acuities were also documented.

RESULTS

All 88 patients received at least one laser treatment, and 46 patients of the initial 88 underwent multiple treatments. Overall, forty-one (46.6%) of the total 88 patients improved by 2 or more lines, whereas 33 patients (37.5%) were within 1 line of the preoperative vision, and 14 patients (15.9%) worsened by 2 or more lines. The mean final visual improvement was 0.92 lines for all 88 patients. The group of patients that responded favorably to the first laser treatment (n = 37) showed an overall improvement of 3.5 lines. However, patients who responded poorly to the first laser treatment resulted in an overall worsening of vision by 0.96 lines.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study found that multiple laser treatments can improve visual acuity and resolve macular edema and that each additional laser treatment gives a patient a modest chance of visual improvement. A positive or stable visual response to first laser treatment portends a favorable prognosis with subsequent laser treatments.

Angiographic findings in arteriovenous dissection (sheathotomy) for decompression of branch retinal vein occlusion

BACKGROUND

Arteriovenous dissection (sheathotomy) is a new therapeutic option in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) and macular involvement. We present an angiographic follow-up of 22 patients who underwent arteriovenous dissection (AVD).

METHODS

Twenty-two patients (15 women; mean age 68.7+/-8.0 years) were examined preoperatively and 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year after AVD. For assessment of retinal hemodynamics, arteriovenous passage time (AVP) of the affected and unaffected branches at first (AVPe) and at maximal (AVPmax) venous filling were measured. Changes in the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) were calculated to determine foveal structural changes. Visual acuity was assessed as functional parameter.

RESULTS

The early AVP (AVPe) of the affected branch increased from 4.4+/-0.8 s preoperatively to 4.9+/-0.6 s 6 weeks after surgery and decreased to 2.7+/-0.4 s 1 year after surgery (p=0.05). When compared to the unaffected control branch, AVPe was significantly increased in the affected branch preoperatively (4.5+/-0.8 s versus 1.5+/-0.2 s, p<0.01), 6 weeks (4.9+/-0.6 s versus 2.1+/-0.3 s, p<0.01), 3 months (2.7+/-0.4 s versus 1.5+/-0.2 s, p<0.01), and 6 months (3.1+/-0.4 s versus 2.2+/-0.3 s, p=0.02) after AVD. After 1 year, AVPe no longer differed between the affected and the control branch (2.7+/-0.4 s versus 2.6+/- 0.3 s). AVPmax was significantly increased in the affected branch preoperatively (11.8+/-0.8 s versus 7.7+/-1.0 s, p<0.05). The AVPmax in the affected branch with the exception of 3 months after surgery (10.2+/-1.1 s, p<0.01) was no longer elevated when compared to preoperative values. The area of the FAZ did not change significantly but showed a trend for enlargement.

CONCLUSION

AVD for decompression of BRVO leads to a significant decrease of AVP and may ameliorate retinal perfusion in the affected branch.

Internal limiting membrane peeling for decompression of macular edema in retinal vein occlusion: a report of 14 cases

BACKGROUND

Currently, there is no proven treatment for macular edema due to central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). Moreover, not all cases with macular edema due to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) respond to laser photocoagulation. We postulated that internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling for decompression of macular edema in cases of retinal vein occlusion would facilitate egress of blood and extracellular fluid out of the inner retinal layers, leading to reduction of macular edema and improvement in visual acuity.

METHODS

Fourteen consecutive patients with macular edema due to CRVO or selected cases of BRVO, not eligible for laser photocoagulation, underwent pars plana vitrectomy with removal of preretinal hyaloid and peeling of the ILM stained with indocyanine green dye.

RESULTS

In all cases, intraretinal blood and retinal thickening diminished within 6 weeks of surgery. Visual acuity improved in 78.6% of cases. No surgical complications occurred, although one patient developed nuclear cataract 10 months postoperatively.

CONCLUSION

Pars plana vitrectomy with ILM peeling in selected cases of CRVO and BRVO showed improvement in visual acuity in this nonrandomized, noncontrolled study. This pilot study adds support to the concept that ILM peeling may of visual benefit when compared with the natural history in these vaso-occlusive diseases.

Optical coherence tomography of branch retinal vein occlusion

PURPOSE

To evaluate the incidence of serous retinal detachment (SRD) secondary to a branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) by using optical coherence tomography (OCT).

METHODS

Fourteen eyes of 14 patients with a BRVO underwent a detailed history, ophthalmoscopic examination, and fluorescein angiographic evaluation. They were also studied with OCT.

RESULTS

The 14 patients included eight women and six men with a mean age of 73.6 +/- 10.5 years (range, 55-90 years). Four eyes were found to have cystoid macular edema by fluorescein angiography, whereas 10 cases were detected by OCT. SRD involving any portion of the macula was found in 10 (71.4%) of the 14 eyes, and SRD extending into the fovea was found in six (42.9%) eyes. Two (14.3%) of the 14 patients also showed a subfoveal hemorrhage that appeared to have gravitated inferiorly through the SRD to the dependent portion of the detachment.

CONCLUSIONS

That few patients with SRD secondary to a BRVO discovered by ophthalmoscopy have been reported in the literature would suggest that this is an uncommon complication. The authors found with OCT that SRD commonly occurs in BRVO. In addition, subretinal hemorrhage may occur in the context of BRVO, and the authors propose that blood gravitates through the subretinal fluid to settle behind the retina.