To describe the role of preoperative gas for pars plana vitrectomy (PGP) as an adjunct to surgical repair of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). This is a retrospective consecutive case series of all rhegmatogenous retinal detachments with multiple breaks in more than one quadrant, large breaks extending greater than one clock hour, and/or inferior breaks requiring PPV, who received intravitreal injection of sulfur hexafluoride (SF 6 ) or perfluoropropane (C 3 F 8 ) 1-2 weeks before PPV between 2016 and 2020 at a tertiary care center. A total of 109 eyes underwent the PGP technique, 73% of which had macular involvement. The rhegmatogenous retinal detachments on average involved 5.5 (SD 2.1) clock hours with inferior retinal breaks in 51%. Based on clinical examination, subretinal fluid was noted to be dissipated in parts of the detached retina before PPV in 57% of cases. The use of perfluorocarbon heavy liquid or posterior drainage retinotomy was required in 16% of cases. A 95% primary anatomical success rate was achieved over the median 177 (interquartile range 105-526) follow-up days. A final visual acuity of 20/50 or better was achieved in 65%. PGP as an adjunct to PPV may facilitate ease of surgery, as well as anatomical and functional success for rhegmatogenous retinal detachments with multiple, large, and/or inferior breaks.
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