Comparison of 23 Gauge Transconjunctival releasable Suture Vitrectomy with standard 20 gauge Vitrectomy.

Objective: To compare effectiveness of releasable transconjunctival sutures in 23 gauge vitrectomy and standard 20 gauge vitrectomy.

Methods: This prospective comparative study was conducted in Department of Vitreoretinal Surgery, Al Ehsan Eye Hospital, Lahore from June 2016 to March 2017. It included 84 patients in total (Group-A: 42 patients underwent 23 gauge releasable suture vitrectomy; Group-B: 42 patients who underwent standard 20 gauge vitrectomy). Pre operative and post operative best corrected visual acuity, surgical duration, pre and post operative intraocular pressure and complication profile was compared between two groups.

Results: The leading cause for vitrectomy was vitreous haemorrhage. (Group-A; n=15 ;35.71%; Group-B; n=17; 40.47%). There was statistically significant improvement in preoperative and postoperative BCVA in both groups (Group A: P-value < 0.05; Group B P-value < 0.05) but there was no significant difference in post operative BCVA between two groups at 3 months (P-value > 0.05). Surgical time for 23G vitrectomy Group was statistically less than 20 G vitrectomy Group (51 +/-18 minutes for Group-A versus 78 +/- 13 minutes for Group-B; p-value < 0.05). Visual analog score for pain / discomfort was also significantly less for Group-A than Group-B. There was no significant difference in intraocular pressures between the two groups.

Conclusions: Releasable suture technique for small gauge vitrectomy is a safe and easily adaptable technique that has certain significant advantages over 20G absorbable suture vitrectomy.