Comparison of 27-gauge and 25-gauge vitrectomy in the management of tractional retinal detachment secondary to proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

• Main Authors: Po-Lin Chen, Yan-Ting Chen, San-Ni Chen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2021-01-01
• Series: PLoS ONE
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0249139

<h4>Objective</h4>To compare surgical outcomes between 27 and 25-gauge vitrectomy in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) with tractional retinal detachment (TRD).<h4>Methods</h4>This retrospective study was conducted to compare the intraoperative status, operation time, use of instruments, endotamponade substance, wound suture number, and iatrogenic break, between 27 and 25-gauge vitrectomy in 43 eyes afflicted by PDR with TRD. The post-surgical results, best-corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure, recurrent vitreous haemorrhage, and re-operation rate were regularly followed up for 6 months.<h4>Results</h4>Patients in the 25 and the 27-gauge groups did not differ significantly in terms of pre-surgical conditions, such as age, gender, pre-existing glaucoma, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and the severity of their TRD. The mean operation time was 56.7 minutes in the 27-gauge group and 63.7 minutes in the 25-gauge group (p = 0.94). There is significantly less use of micro forceps in the 27-gauge group (p = 0.004). No difference between micro scissors and chandelier usage were noted; neither was their difference in iatrogenic retinal breaks. Significantly fewer wound sutures were noted in the 27-gauge group (p < 0.001). The post-operative results revealed no significant difference in ocular hypertension, hypotony, BCVA improvement, recurrent vitreous haemorrhage and re-operation rate.<h4>Conclusions</h4>The 27-gauge vitrectomy system offers comparable surgical outcomes in PDR with TRD. The 27-gauge vitrectomy system is suitable for complicated retinal surgery.