COMBINING EXTERNAL NEEDLE DRAINAGE AND SCLERAL BUCKLING WITH VITRECTOMY FOR THE REPAIR OF BULLOUS RETINAL DETACHMENTS

Abstract

Purpose: 

To describe a technique of combined scleral buckle with external needle drainage and vitrectomy in the treatment of bullous exudative retinal detachment, schisis detachment, or bullous retinoschisis threatening the fovea.

Methods: 

A retrospective chart review of four eyes of four patients who underwent the procedure described.

Results: 

Four eyes of four patients who underwent combined scleral buckling with external needle drainage and vitrectomy by a single surgeon for a bullous exudative retinal detachment, schisis detachment, or bullous retinoschisis threatening the fovea were included in this series. All four patients were attached after a single surgical intervention. No patient developed complications from the external drainage.

Conclusion: 

External needle drainage of bullous subretinal or intraschisis fluid in combination with vitrectomy is a successful technique for treating bullous exudative retinal detachments, schisis detachment, or foveal-threatening retinoschisis. The technique avoids many complications associated with conventional drainage procedures. Long-term results seem promising because of extended follow-up demonstrating sustained anatomical success with a single intervention.

In Brief

The authors describe a series of four patients who underwent a novel technique of external needle drainage during vitrectomy in the treatment of exudative retinal detachment, schisis-related detachment, or bullous retinoschisis.