Is There a Link Between Vitreous Cortex Remnants and Anatomic Outcome of Vitrectomy for Primary Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment?

Purpose

To study the anatomic outcome of leaving vitreous cortex remnants (VCR) during pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD).

Methods

The study comprised patients with RRD who had PPV by a single surgeon between January 2019 and December 2020 and followed for 6 months. After intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide, the topographic pattern of VCR at the periphery (p) and macula (m) was divided into 2 types by extent: complete or 4 quadrants (pVCR4Q), and between 2 and 4 quadrants ≥2 quadrants (pVCR>2Q), or by location >1 inferior retinal quadrant (pVCR>1InfQ), and at the macula (mVCR). Anatomical failure or retinal re-detachment within 6 months after surgery was the primary outcome measures. The occurrence of grade C proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) and epiretinal membrane (ERM) were used as secondary outcome indicators.

Results

A 6-month prospective follow-up was performed on 103 patients. pVCR4Q was detected in 31 eyes, pVCR>2Q in 40 eyes, pVCR>1InfQ in 40 eyes and mVCR in 54 eyes. Recurrent RRD developed in 9 (8.7%) eyes, PVR grade C in 6 (5.8%) eyes and ERM in 11 (10.7%) eyes. According to multivariate regression analysis, the existence of any type of VCR did not correlate with anatomical failure, PVR or ERM.

Conclusion

The initial success rate of PPV and the growth of PVR or ERM do not appear to be impacted by keeping VCR.

Utility of Removal of Vitreous Cortex Remnants during Vitrectomy for Primary Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Repair

PURPOSE

To investigate the prevalence of vitreous cortex remnants (VCR) in primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) and the utility of VCR removal using diamond-dusted membrane scrapers (DDMS) during pars plana vitrectomy (PPV).

METHODS

One hundred and eighty-seven eyes (187 consecutive patients) were retrospectively studied. We evaluated the prevalence of VCR on the retinal surface extending from the macula to outside the vascular arcade in eyes that underwent PPV for primary RRD by a single surgeon between July 2014 and February 2021. The VCR outside the vascular arcade was completely removed using a DDMS. Preoperative factors and surgical outcomes were compared between eyes with VCR removed intraoperatively to those without VCR.

RESULTS

VCR was present and removed (group A) in 86 (46%) eyes and absent (group B) in 101 (54%) eyes. Patients with VCR were significantly older than those without (P = 0.006). The preoperative BCVA (logMAR) tended to be worse in group A (1.23 ± 0.92 [Snellen equivalent, 20/340]) than in group B (1.03 ± 0.89 [20/214]), however, the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.095). There were no between-group differences in postoperative BCVA (group A; 0.44 ± 0.54 [20/55]; group B; 0.42 ± 0.50 [20/53]; P = 0.38). Single surgery anatomic success (group A; 90%, group B; 91%, P = 0.573) and the incidence of postoperative PVR (group A; 9%, group B; 6%, P = 0.554) were comparable between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Nearly half of the patients had VCR, which was more likely to occur in older patients. VCR removal resulted in favorable functional and anatomic outcomes similar to those in eyes without any VCR in patients with RRD.

Surgical technique for removing vitreous cortex remnants using a diamond-dusted membrane scraper

PURPOSE

The purpose of this paper is to present a new surgical technique to remove vitreous cortex remnants.

METHODS

Non-consecutive retrospective interventional case series.

RESULTS

When the posterior vitreous is split, its outermost layer may remain attached to the retina, developing vitreoschisis-induced vitreous cortex remnants (VCR). Their role in macular pathology etiopathogenesis has been well documented; however, recently, it has been proposed that VCR also play a crucial role in proliferative vitreoretinopathy and consequent retinal redetachment. The prevalence of VCR is underestimated because triamcinolone acetonide is not routinely used for vitreous staining. Vitreous cortex remnants (VCR) removal is challenging, and several surgical techniques have been proposed. However, they require sclerotomy enlargement, material that may not be readily available, and manual fashioning. Alternatively, a diamond-dusted membrane scraper (DDMS), already widely used in macular pathology treatment, can follow the contour of the retina, as it is a silicone tube, and remove VCR with its abrasive tip. A DDMS may also be introduced in the vitreous cavity through a standard trocar. Finally, the use of a DDMS provides predictable feedback, making the learning curve short. In this case series, 34 eyes affected by primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment were enrolled. The retinal redetachment rate was 2.9% at six months of follow-up, below the average literature value of 21%. No adverse events were reported.

CONCLUSION

A DDMS can be suitable for use in VCR removal, although further studies are warranted to understand the indications and extent of this surgical technique for improving the management of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

Vitreoschisis and retinal detachment: New insight in proliferative vitreoretinopathy

PURPOSE

To assess the occurrence of peripheral vitreoschisis-induced vitreous cortex remnants (p-VCRs) in primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RD) and investigate whether the presence of p-VCRs results in a greater risk of RD recurrence, secondary to Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy (PVR) development after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV).

METHODS

Patients who underwent PPV for primary rhegmatogenous RD between January 2016 and December 2018 were included. The presence of residual p-VCRs was confirmed intraoperatively using triamcinolone acetonide (TA). Patients with p-VCRs were divided into two groups: Group A comprised of patients who underwent PPV without p-VCR removal, while Group B included patients who underwent PPV with p-VCR removal.

RESULTS

Four hundred-thirteen eyes with evidence of p-VCR were analyzed. Two-hundred-twenty-three eyes underwent PPV without VCR removal (Group A), while 190 eyes underwent PPV with p-VCR removal (Group B). Primary anatomical success was 91.5% in the Group A and 95.4% in the group B. Retinal re-detachment due to PVR occurred in 17 (7.6%) eyes in Group A and in four (2.1%) eyes in Group B within the first 3 months (p  =  0.01). Among group A, in 11 eyes, there was a diffuse posterior PVR grade C, while six eyes were focal PVR grade C. In Group B, we observed four retinal re-detachment due to focal PVR grade C.

CONCLUSION

The presence of p-VCRs seems to be associated with a higher incidence of PVR development and might also result in more complex RD recurrence, this suggests the need for more aggressive VCRs removal during the first surgery.

Vitreous Wiping, a new technique for removal of vitreous cortex remnants during vitrectomy

PURPOSE

Unremoved vitreoschisis-induced vitreous cortex remnants (VCR) are associated with macular pathology. When present on the retinal periphery, they may play a role in proliferative vitreoretinopathy and retinal detachment after vitrectomy. Existing instruments for their removal involve substantial risk of iatrogenic retinal damage. Purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of a new technique, Vitreous Wiping, for removal of VCR during vitrectomy.

METHODS

Proof-of-concept case series of six eyes (six patients) treated with vitrectomy for various pathologies (macula-on and macula-off retinal detachment, macular hole, macular pucker and vitreous floaters). Vitreous cortex remnants on the surface of the retina were visualized with triamcinolone and removed by Vitreous Wiping with a rectangular piece of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) held with intra-ocular forceps. Visual acuity and clinical course were assessed during a follow-up of 6 months. All eyes underwent postoperative macular optical coherence tomography. Eyes without preoperative macular pathology, underwent retinal sensitivity testing and eyes without paracentral pathology underwent visual field analysis.

RESULTS

Vitreous cortex remnants could be removed completely in all eyes. There were no intra- or postoperative complications. We observed that PVA is soft like a sponge and vitreous sticks to it, making Vitreous Wiping easier and safer, compared to alternative instruments. Visual acuity improved in all eyes. Microperimetry and visual field analysis revealed no abnormalities related to Vitreous Wiping.

CONCLUSION

Vitreoschisis-induced VCR can be removed effectively and safely from the retinal surface by Vitreous Wiping. Larger studies are needed to confirm this promising finding and its potential impact.