THE STABILITY OF PERFLUORO-N-OCTANE DURING VITREORETINAL PROCEDURES

Objectives: To examine the propensity for intraoperative procedures, s uch as endolaser, to generate polar impurities in perfluorocarbon liqu ids, either by degradation of the compound or by dissolution of materi als contacting the liquid, given the value of these liquids as adjunct s to vitreoretinal procedures and the importance of using pure and ine rt liquid. Methods: Perfluoro-N-octane liquid recovered from patients after vitreoretinal procedures was analyzed by gas chromatography, nuc lear magnetic resonance, ultraviolet spectroscopy, and a cell prolifer ation assay. Similar analyses were performed on pure and impure perflu oro-N-octane exposed in vitro to superclinical energy levels of argon and YAG laser, endodiathermy, and endoillumination.Results: No change in chemical structure and only minor (parts per million) increases in dissolved contaminants were observed. The perfluoro-N-octane liquid re tained its inertness as indicated by the inability of fibroblasts to a ttach and proliferate on its surface. Conclusion: The structure and bi ologic inactivity of perfluoro-N-octane are unaffected by vitreoretina l surgical manipulations.