Chandelier-Assisted External Subretinal Fluid Drainage in Primary Scleral Buckling for Treatment of Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment

Outcomes of Chandelier-Assisted Scleral Buckling in Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachments: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Purpose: To examine the outcomes of chandelier endoillumination-assisted scleral buckling (chandelier scleral buckling) for rhegmatogenous retinal detachments (RRDs) and compare them with those of standard scleral buckling using indirect ophthalmoscopy. Methods: A literature search was performed on April 15, 2023. Outcomes analyzed included the primary anatomic success rates, surgical duration, and complication rates. A meta-analysis of proportions estimated the pooled success rate of chandelier scleral buckling. In addition, meta-analyses compared the success rates between pseudophakic eyes and phakic eyes having chandelier scleral buckling and compared success rates and surgical duration between standard scleral buckling and chandelier scleral buckling. Results: Thirty studies with 1133 eyes were included. The pooled primary anatomic success rate of chandelier scleral buckling was 91.7% (95% CI, 89.6%-93.6%). In studies comparing success rates between the 2 techniques, there was no significant difference (risk ratio, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.94-1.08; P = .80). The surgical times were significantly shorter with chandelier scleral buckling than with standard scleral buckling (mean difference, -18.83; 95% CI, -30.88 to -6.79; P = .002). There was no significant difference in the success rate between pseudophakic eyes and phakic eyes (risk ratio, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.91-1.08; P = .89). No cases of endophthalmitis were reported. Conclusions: Chandelier endoillumination-assisted scleral buckling may be a promising technique given its high rate of primary anatomic success for RRDs and success rates similar to those of standard scleral buckling. There was no significant difference in the efficacy of chandelier scleral buckling between pseudophakic eyes and phakic eyes.

Applications of the Guarded-Needle External Drainage Technique in Vitreoretinal Surgery

PURPOSE

To describe the surgical technique using the guarded-needle external drainage for a wide variety of applications in vitreoretinal surgery.

METHODS

A step-by-step procedure and a surgical video using the guarded-needle external drainage technique are presented. In addition, a series of representative cases with wide-ranging diagnoses who underwent the technique is reviewed.

DESCRIPTION AND TECHNIQUE

The guarded-needle using a 27-gauge thin-walled TSK needle (TSK Laboratory International) and a trimmed 70 buckle sleeve are connected to the active extrusion tubing of the vitrectomy machine. External drainage is performed by actively aspirating subretinal fluid using low active vacuum. The guarded-needle external drainage technique is used in cases with bullous detachments, and small and anterior breaks, when performing scleral buckle, for prevention of underfill when using oil tamponade in cases with choroidal effusion, addressing subretinal gas/air, lysing a subretinal band, draining a suprachoroidal hemorrhage, for diabetic tractional retinal detachments, detachments with no definitive break, and subretinal biopsy in exudative detachments.

CONCLUSION

The guarded-needle external drainage has a wide range of applications in vitreoretinal surgery.

Chandelier-Assisted Scleral Buckling: A Literature Review

The treatment of retinal detachment (RD) has seen numerous advancements in the last decades. Scleral buckling (SB) is a surgical procedure introduced in the 1950s that has seen a drastic reduction with the advent of vitrectomy. However, due to the new surgical visualization systems, SB has evolved and continues to be an extremely useful procedure in certain conditions. The presence of different case reports or interventional studies with comparable outcomes, as well as the lack of recent studies with direct comparison, may result in an underestimation of its potential nowadays. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive update on chandelier-assisted scleral bucking (CSB), with an overview of the surgical evolution, outcomes, advantages, and complications.

External Subretinal Fluid Drainage in Scleral Buckling: Before Versus after Cryotherapy and Buckle Placement, A Pilot Study

In this retrospective comparative case series at a teaching hospital, we reviewed adult patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment who underwent scleral buckling surgery with external drainage of subretinal fluid performed before versus after placement of the scleral buckle. Eight eyes in each group were roughly matched for age, sex, baseline visual acuity (VA), and detachment characteristics. The complication rate was 0% for the "before" group and 37% for the "after" group (p = 0.100). In the "after" group, two eyes (25%) developed iatrogenic retinal holes and one eye (12%) developed self-limited subretinal hemorrhage during external needle drainage. The duration of surgery was significantly shorter for the "before" group (mean 89 ± 16 min) compared to the "after" group (118 ± 20 min) (p = 0.008). The primary anatomic success rate was 100% for the "before" group and 75% for the "after" group (p = 0.233). Final VA was not significantly different between the groups or from baseline. In conclusion, while limited by our small sample size, this pilot study suggests that drainage of subretinal fluid before scleral buckle placement may be safer and more efficient compared to draining after buckle placement. Initial drainage may facilitate retinochoroid apposition to allow targeted cryopexy and precise buckle placement.

Hemorrhagic complications associated with suprachoroidal buckling

Background

Multiple surgical techniques exist for the repair of rhegmatogenous retinal detachments (RRD). Suprachoroidal buckling (SCB), consisting of injecting viscoelastic material in the suprachoroidal space to allow chorioretinal apposition, has been recently described in the repair of RRD. The aim of this study is to report the complications of SCB and to propose measures to decrease their incidence during the learning curve.

Methods

A total of 26 eyes of 26 patients who underwent a SCB procedure for the management of RRD secondary to a single or multiple retinal breaks were enrolled. Patients were operated between January 2014 and March 2017 at two academic institutions. Patient and retinal detachment characteristics were obtained from the charts. Surgical videos were reviewed for every case and intraoperative complications were recorded. Complications observed postoperatively were obtained from the charts.

Results

Sixteen eyes (62%) underwent SCB alone, 5 eyes (19%) underwent additional gas tamponade and 5 eyes (19%) had combined pars plana vitrectomy. The most common complication was hemorrhage (6 cases, 23%). There were no cases of ischemic choroidal changes or hyperpigmentation at the edge of the dome. All six complications occurred in phakic patients who had inferior RRD with retinal breaks in the inferior quadrants. Isolated subretinal hemorrhage occurred in 4 patients and isolated suprachoroidal hemorrhage in 1 patient, and those did not affect final visual outcome. Extensive combined subretinal and suprachoroidal hemorrhage occurred in one case, and was complicated by phthisis bulbi. Re-detachment occurred in 4/6 (67%) of patients, and 5/6 (83%) of patients required a secondary procedure. Three out of 6 patients (50%) had at least 2 lines of visual acuity improvement.

Conclusion

SCB performed for RRD can be associated with hemorrhagic complications. The hemorrhages are usually self-limited but may occasionally result in severe visual compromise when involving the suprachoroidal space. Specific surgical measures need to be undertaken in order to decrease the likelihood of complications and further studies are needed to assess the safety and efficacy of this technique.

Internal limiting membrane peel: Does it change the success rate of primary vitrectomy without belt buckle in rhegmatogenous retinal detachments?

Purpose:

To compare the anatomic success of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) after internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling at macular area and macular plus peripapillary area versus no peeling in rhegmatogenous retinal detachments (RRD).

Methods:

A prospective observational study between July 2014 and March 2017 conducted on 289 eyes of 287 patients with RRD were randomly assigned to three treatment procedures, viz., PPV with no ILM peeling, PPV with macular peeling, and PPV with macular plus peripapillary peeling. Recurrent RD (ReRD) was treated as an event and accordingly the overall primary (PS) and final success (FS) rates were obtained. The risk of ReRD associated with peeling procedures after adjusting for risk factors were obtained using Cox-proportional hazard analysis.

Results:

The PS percentage for no peel, macular, and macular plus peripapillary procedures were 77.78% (70/90), 82.18% (83/101), and 94.89% (93/98; maximum), respectively, which was statistically significant with a P value of 0.003. The FS percentage for no peel, macular, and macular plus peripapillary were 93.33%, 95.04%, and 100%, respectively, which was significantly different with a P value of 0.048. With reference to no peeling, the adjusted hazard ratio for macular peeling was 0.841 [95% CI: 0.44–1.60] while 0.235 [95% CI: 0.088–0.626] for macular plus peripapillary peeling.

Conclusion:

The anatomic success rate of PPV with macular plus peripapillary ILM peeling was significantly higher as compared to no peel category. The hazard of ReRD in patients undergoing macular plus peripapillary peel was significantly reduced as compared to no peel procedure.

Novel transscleral sutureless subretinal fluid drainage using a 25-gauge trocar-cannula with a self-closing valve in patients with advanced Coats disease

AIM

To assess surgical outcomes of a novel method of transscleral drainage of subretinal fluid using a 25-gauge trocar-cannula with a self-closing valve (DTV) in patients with severe exudative retinal detachment (ERD) in Coats disease.

METHODS

Retrospective consecutive cases of 20 patients (20 eyes) of severe ERD due to Coats disease (stage 3B) in total 156 Coats patients between June 2015 and April 2019 were included in this study. The participants were aged 1 to 10y with a mean age of 3.50±1.79y. The mean follow-up time were 11.9mo. Subretinal fluid was drained transsclerally using a novel method of DTV. The height of the retinal detachment and the regression of abnormal vessels including telangiectasias and aneurysms were observed. Complications including vitreoretinal fibrosis, tractional retinal detachments (TRD), endophthalmitis, retinal holes, and hemorrhages were evaluated.

RESULTS

Following surgeries, the patients showed the replacement of ERD and regression of telangiectatic retinal vessels observed with binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy. Six patients received retinal cryotherapies and 12 patients received laser photocoagulations following first external subretinal fluid drainage using DTV. All patients underwent intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapies to induce residual subretinal fluid absorption. During follow-ups, 8 patients underwent a second drainage operation, 17 patients received retinal laser photocoagulations and 7 patients received cryotherapies. Vitreoretinal fibrosis was found in 7 patients and 6 patients underwent micro-invasive vitrectomies during the follow-up period. Severe TRD, iatrogenic retinal holes, and hemorrhages were not found.

CONCLUSION

The authors present a new therapeutic approach that successfully drains subretinal fluid in advanced stage 3B Coats disease with severe ERD. This is a simple, safe and less invasive approach when compared with traditional managements. However, it should be strictly selected for patients with high bullous ERD close to the central axis of the eye in order to avoid the complication of retinal holes.

Preoperative estimation of distance between retinal break and limbus with wide-field fundus imaging: Potential clinical utility for conventional scleral buckling

OBJECTIVE

Accurate scleral marking of retinal breaks is essential for successful scleral buckling. This study aimed to investigate the use of wide-field fundus images obtained with an Optos for preoperative estimation of the distance from the limbus to the retinal breaks.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This is a retrospective review of 29 eyes from 26 patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment who received scleral buckling with anatomically successful repair. They underwent wide-field fundus photography with Optos California. In the pre- and postoperative fundus images, we measured distances from the macula to the retinal tears (TM), to the center of the vortex veins (VM), to the optic disc (DM), and to the posterior edge of the scleral buckle (BM).

RESULTS

(BM-VM) / DM was significantly correlated with the distance from the limbus to the posterior edge of the scleral buckle that had been determined intraoperatively. (r = 0.705; p<0.001) We applied a regression line derived from this correlation with the value of (TM -VM) / DM in order to calculate estimated distances between retinal breaks and the limbus. The calculated distances were all within the range of distances from the limbus to the anterior and posterior edges of the scleral buckles.

CONCLUSION

Preoperative analysis of Optos images may be useful for estimating the distance from the limbus to retinal breaks, which might aid scleral marking during scleral buckling surgery.

Scleral Buckling under a Slit-lamp Illumination System with a Contact Wide-angle Viewing Lens Compared with an Indirect Ophthalmoscope

PURPOSE

To investigate the outcomes of scleral buckling surgery performed under a slit-lamp illumination system (Visulux) with a contact wide-angle viewing lens (Mini Quad) in patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) and to compare these outcomes with those of surgery performed under an indirect ophthalmoscope.

METHODS

By retrospective review of electronic medical records, patients with RRD who had undergone scleral buckling surgery were identified. Scleral buckling surgeries were performed with two illumination instruments, a slit-lamp (SL group) and an indirect ophthalmoscope (IO group). Subretinal fluid drainage, cryopexy, and intravitreal gas injection were performed optionally. At 6 months after surgery, anatomical and functional outcomes were evaluated and compared between the two groups. Operation time was also compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

Of the 45 total patients (45 eyes), 28 were included in the SL group, and 17 were included in the IO group. In the SL and IO groups, the primary anatomical success rate was 89.3% and 88.2%, respectively (p = 0.92). The logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution change, which reflects improvement in best-corrected visual acuity after surgery, was -0.19 ± 0.38 in the SL group and -0.21 ± 0.63 in the IO group; this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.91). The mean operation time was significantly shorter in the SL group (78.9 ± 11.8 minutes) than in the IO group (100.0 ± 13.9 minutes, p < 0.001), especially for patients who underwent additional procedures such as subretinal fluid drainage and cryopexy (81.4 ± 12.9 and 103.5 ± 12.3 minutes, respectively, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Scleral buckling surgery performed under a slit-lamp illumination system yielded a similar anatomical success rate and similar functional improvement in RRD compared with surgery performed under an indirect ophthalmoscope. The slit-lamp system could save time, especially in bullous RRD, which requires additional subretinal fluid drainage.

COMBINING EXTERNAL NEEDLE DRAINAGE AND SCLERAL BUCKLING WITH VITRECTOMY FOR THE REPAIR OF BULLOUS RETINAL DETACHMENTS

PURPOSE

To describe a technique of combined scleral buckle with external needle drainage and vitrectomy in the treatment of bullous exudative retinal detachment, schisis detachment, or bullous retinoschisis threatening the fovea.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review of four eyes of four patients who underwent the procedure described.

RESULTS

Four eyes of four patients who underwent combined scleral buckling with external needle drainage and vitrectomy by a single surgeon for a bullous exudative retinal detachment, schisis detachment, or bullous retinoschisis threatening the fovea were included in this series. All four patients were attached after a single surgical intervention. No patient developed complications from the external drainage.

CONCLUSION

External needle drainage of bullous subretinal or intraschisis fluid in combination with vitrectomy is a successful technique for treating bullous exudative retinal detachments, schisis detachment, or foveal-threatening retinoschisis. The technique avoids many complications associated with conventional drainage procedures. Long-term results seem promising because of extended follow-up demonstrating sustained anatomical success with a single intervention.

Acute bacterial endophthalmitis after scleral buckling surgery with chandelier endoillumination

Purpose

The non-contact wide-angle viewing system (WAVS) with chandelier endoillumination is being used more commonly during scleral buckling surgery for rhegmatogenous retinal detachments although its safety has not been established. We report our findings in a case of bacterial endophthalmitis that developed after scleral buckling surgery with WAVS and chandelier endoillumination.

Observations

A 42-year-old man underwent scleral buckling surgery for a rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in his right eye using a WAVS with chandelier endoillumination. Three days after the surgery, the patient noticed a marked decrease in his vision with ocular pain. Slit-lamp examination showed dense infiltration in the anterior chamber and vitreous body. Pars plana vitrectomy with antibiotic irrigation was done immediately, and Staphylococcus epidermidis was detected in the vitreous fluid. After vancomycin 6/day for 4 weeks, the inflammation gradually subsided, and the visual acuity recovered to 20/20 in 3 months.

Conclusions and importance

Acute bacterial endophthalmitis can develop after scleral buckling surgery performed with WAVS and chandelier endoillumination.

Applying Sutureless Encircling Number 41 Band and Transscleral Chandelier-Assisted Laser Retinopexy for Scleral Buckling Procedure

Purpose

To assess the outcome of sutureless encirlcing number 41 band and transscleral laser retinopexy in uncomplicated rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD), using a wide-angle viewing system (WAVS) and chandelier endoillumination.

Methods

Prospective intervention study included 30 eyes of 30 patients presenting with RRD of recent onset indicated for SB. All cases were treated by sutureless encircling number 41 band and transscleral laser retinopexy. Visualization was provided by the Resight WAVS and a single 27-gauge chandelier endoillumination. Anatomical and visual outcomes were evaluated.

Results

The mean age of our group was 49.8 ± 12.3 years, and the mean duration of RD was 7 (0–50) days. Twenty-four eyes (80.0%) were phakic while the remaining 6 eyes (20%) were either pseudophakic or aphakic. The primary retinal reattachment rate was 83.3% (25 out of 30 eyes). LogMAR visual acuity improved from 1.3 (0.30–2.0) preoperatively to 1.0 (0.40–1.60) at first month (p = 0.002) and to 0.70 (0.20–1.92) at third month (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Sutureless encircling number 41 band with chandelier-assisted transscleral laser retinopexy is a safe and effective technique for managing uncomplicated RRD. It provides a high primary success rate while eliminating the complications of cryotherapy, sutures, and broad buckles.

Anatomical success rate of pars plana vitrectomy for treatment of complex rhegmatogenous retinal detachment

Background

Pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) is preferred surgical procedure for the management of complex rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anatomical results of primary PPV for the treatment of primary complex RRD and to determine the influence of lens status, tamponading agent, preoperative proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) and axial length (AL) of the eye upon the anatomical outcome.

Methods

A retrospective consecutive chart analysis was performed on 117 eyes from 117 patients with complex RRD managed with PPV. Fifty-nine eyes were phakic and 58 pseudophakic eyes. All patients had a minimum follow-up period of 12 months. Eyes were classified into groups using independent variables (first classification based upon lens status and tamponade used, second classification based upon lens and PVR status and third classification based upon AL of the eye). The groups were compared for anatomical outcomes (dependent variables) using nonparametric- or, in case of normally distributed data, parametric- statistical tests.

Results

Retinal reattachment rate in phakic eyes was 94.9% compared to 93.1% in pseudophakic, with no statistically significant difference between the two. The overall retinal reattachment rate with single surgery was 94.0%. Final reattachment rate was 97.4%. In case of established PVR ≥ C1, the reattachment rate was not statistically different (92.6%) from eyes with no PVR (91.1%) irrespective of lens status. A statistically significant difference was found between redetachment rates only between phakic eyes with gas tamponade compared to silicon oil (SO) (p = 0.001). Reattachment rate proved to be similar in both AL groups (≤24 mm and > 24 mm).

Conclusions

High anatomical success rate of primary vitrectomy for complex RRD with either gas or SO tamponade was achieved in phakic as well as pseudophakic eyes irrespective of AL of the eye.

Scleral Buckling with Chandelier Illumination

Scleral buckling is a highly successful technique for the repair of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment that requires intra-operative examination of the retina and treatment of retinal breaks via indirect ophthalmoscopy. Data suggest that scleral buckling likely results in improved outcomes for many patients but is declining in popularity, perhaps because of significant advances in vitrectomy instrumentation and visualization systems. Emerging data suggest that chandelier-assisted scleral buckling is safe and has many potential advantages over traditional buckling techniques. By combining traditional scleral buckling with contemporary vitreoretinal visualization techniques, chandelier-assistance may increase the popularity of scleral buckling to treat primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment for surgeons of the next generation, maintaining buckling as an option for appropriate patients in the future.