Impact of air injection on subretinal fluid following successful scleral buckling surgery for macular-involving retinal detachment

Fen Tang,Xin Zhao,Ling Cui,Ning Su,Ningning Tang,Fan Xu,Zhaoguang Lai,Min Li,Siming Zeng,Haibin Zhong,Lingjuan Liu,Li Jiang

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-88670-1

Fen Tang, Xin Zhao + Show 10 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-88670-1

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Abstract

Air injection is an accessory technique during scleral buckling (SB). Subclinical subretinal fluid (SRF) may presence and persistent after SB. The impact of air injection on SRF is unclear. In the study, we retrospectively enrolled 51 patients with macular-involving RD who had undergone successful SB. They were categorized into Group A (SB without air injection) and Group B (SB with air injection). First, we found that although group B seem to be severer than group A before surgery, Kaplan–Meier graph showed that SRF absorbed more rapidly in group B after surgery, and the incidence of SRF in group B was much lower during the whole follow-up period. Moreover, the cases with superior breaks had the lowest incidence. Second, during the follow-up period, there was no significant difference about postoperative complication between two groups. Lastly, risk factors for persistent SRF were investigated with binary logistic regression, and no risk factor was found. In conclusion, air injection during the SB might accelerate SRF absorption and reduce the incidence of persistent SRF, especially for the longstanding macular-off RD with superior breaks.

Highlights

Air injection is an accessory technique during scleral buckling (SB)
As was mentioned above, group B had significantly worse best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), lower intraocular pressure (IOP) and severer PVR grade before surgery, the disease severity in group A seem to be milder than group B, the incidence of postoperative subretinal fluid (SRF) was supposed to be lower in group A
There is a high probability that air injection during SB is benefit for SRF absorption

Summary

Introduction

Air injection is an accessory technique during scleral buckling (SB). Subclinical subretinal fluid (SRF) may presence and persistent after SB. We retrospectively enrolled 51 patients with macular-involving RD who had undergone successful SB. They were categorized into Group A (SB without air injection) and Group B (SB with air injection). Air injection during the SB might accelerate SRF absorption and reduce the incidence of persistent SRF, especially for the longstanding macular-off RD with superior breaks. Previous studies reported that the incidence of SRF following successful retinal detachment surgery varied ranged from 0 to 94%. The present study was aimed to compare the foveal SRF incidence in macular-off RD after SB without intravitreal air injection or with intravitreal air injection, and to investigate the effect of air bubble on foveal SRF absorption. We aimed to evaluate the potential risk factors for persistent SRF at fovea

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Results

Conclusion