Intraoperative complications of perfluoroperhydrophenanthrene: subretinal perfluorocarbon, retinal slippage and residual perfluorocarbon. Vitreon Study Group.

Background: An earlier analysis of postoperative complications of the perfluorocarbon liquid perfluoroperhydrophenanthrene (Vitreon) showed a low overall rate of posterior segment complications. A study was conducted to determine the incidence of specific intraoperative complications in a wide variety of vitreoretinal procedures performed by many different surgeons using Vitreon.

Methods: The records of consecutive patients enrolled in the Vitreon Collaborative Study were reviewed to determine the incidence of subretinal Vitreon, retinal slippage and residual Vitreon. A total of 1867 vitreoretinal procedures performed between Nov. 16, 1989, and Dec. 14, 1994, at 35 participating centres were studied. Vitreon was used as a surgical tool at the surgeon's discretion after informed consent was obtained. The incidence of intraoperative complications was determined, and preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative characteristics were tabulated.

Results: Subretinal Vitreon was observed in 24 patients (1.3%), retinal slippage in 20 patients (1.1%) (15 [6.9%] of the 216 patients with giant retinal tears) and residual Vitreon in 68 patients (3.6%).

Interpretation: Vitreon can be used as a surgical tool in a wide variety of vitreoretinal procedures with a low incidence of intraoperative complications.