Pneumatic retinopexy complications

Abstract

AbstractPurpose To review the incidence of new and missed retinal breaks, the risk for PVR formation and the danger of other intraoperative or postoperative complications after pneumatic retinopexy (PR) for retinal detachment comparing with those after scleral buckling procedure and vitrectomy.Methods All cases having undergone PR in our clinic during the last 8 years for primary retinal detachment or redetachment were reviewed for intraoperative or / and postoperative adverse events. The findings were compared with those from the literature which studied in any prospective or retrospective way the complications after PR, scleral buckling and vitrectomy for retinal detachments without PVR.Results Improper gas entrapment (anteriorly, subretinal or subconjuctival) and high intraocular pressure were observed intraoperatively or soon after the procedure. New retinal breaks and PVR development were the most common findings in the late postoperative period.Conclusion The relatively high incidence of new breaks suggests that proper case selection and close follow‐up are probably required. PR seems to be the method of choice after retinal redetachment due to missed retinal breaks after vitrectomy.