MEDIUM-TERM PERFLUORO-N-OCTANE AS RESCUE POSTOPERATIVE TAMPONADE FOR VERY COMPLEX RETINAL DETACHMENTS: ANATOMICAL AND FUNCTIONAL OUTCOMES.

Purpose: To report the anatomical and functional outcomes of medium-term perfluoro-n-octane (PFO) tamponade as a rescue procedure in very complex retinal detachments (RDs).

Methods: We reviewed the case records of 35 consecutive patients who underwent vitrectomy for very complex RDs due to diverse etiologies. The surgical complexity was so graded because of the intraoperative failure to ascertain complete retinal reattachment; perfluoro-n-octane was used as rescue tamponade for 2 to 4 weeks. The second intervention included additional membrane peeling, retinectomy, endophotocoagulation, and gas/silicone oil tamponade. The minimum follow-up was 3 months after the final intervention: the primary outcome was retinal reattachment and the secondary outcome was change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA).

Results: The most common presentations were severe trauma with retinal incarceration, preretinal and subretinal hemorrhage, or chronic/recurrent RDs with anterior proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Preoperative BCVA was ≤counting fingers in 31 (88.6%) patients. Complete retinal attachment without any tamponade was achieved in 33 (94.3%) eyes. best-corrected visual acuity improved in 30 (85.7%) eyes: 16 (45.7%) had BCVA ≥20/200 and 21 (60%) regained ambulatory vision (≥5/200). Two eyes developed keratopathy, and four needed antiglaucoma medications.

Conclusion: We achieved excellent anatomical outcomes and acceptable functional outcomes in nearly inoperable RDs with few side effects. Medium-term perfluoro-n-octane tamponade can be used as a salvage procedure in very complex RDs where intraoperative reattachment cannot be ensured.